Pelagos Data Centres to Build 250MW Gibraltar Facility
Data centre demand has surged globally, driven by the expansion of cloud computing, hyperscale computing and AI.
These facilities have evolved from simple server rooms to enormous, highly efficient and resilient infrastructure, with sustainability becoming a core design criteria.
Alongside this evolution, the Port of Gibraltar has become a secure and resilient data centre destination for banking, e-gaming and other sectors, thanks to its geostrategic location and reliable connectivity.
Pelagos Data Centres plans to elevate its presence in Europe’s digital infrastructure mainstream, meeting rising AI-related capacity needs and reinforcing the Port of Gibraltar's strategic appeal.
Pelagos Data Centres’ investment in Gibraltar
Pelagos Data Centres announced at the offices of the Chief Minister of Gibraltar the plans to build a new facility near the port. Expected to deliver up to 250MW of capacity by 2033, the state-of-the-art facility is expected to attract investment of approximately £1.8 billion.
The facility will be constructed in five phases and is the largest current development project in the territory by value and among the largest in its history.
Funded by private investment, the project is backed by the Government of Gibraltar, representing a transformative step for the territory’s digital and economic landscape. It will also make an important contribution to meeting the demands in Europe for data centre capacity, serving the needs of both the UK and continental Europe.
“I am delighted that Pelagos Data Centres have decided that Gibraltar is the place to establish their first facility and that the whole community will benefit from their massive investment and its huge economic impact. I look forward to this project becoming a reality as soon as possible,” says Hon. Mr. Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar.
Project details
The first stage of the project is scheduled to begin in late 2027, with each following phase taking place in 18-month intervals.
The data centre will be powered independently of Gibraltar’s existing power grid and will feature a public leisure facility for the local community.
“The scale of this project marks a new chapter for Gibraltar and for Europe’s digital capabilities. Just as electricity and the internet transformed society in the past, AI is now emerging as the defining technology of our time with the power to redefine entire industries, economies, and communities,” says Mr Konstantin Sokolov, Chairman of Pelagos Data Centres.
He adds: “With our new facility, Pelagos Data Centres is laying the foundation for the next era of AI-driven innovation, positioning Gibraltar as a strategic hub and enabling Europe's brightest minds to unlock the full potential of this revolutionary technology."
The project will also provide substantial economic benefits to Gibraltar, as well as up to 500 jobs during the construction of the centre and 100 permanent positions. The company currently employs 50 full-time staff in London and Gibraltar, with plans to hire and train local staff extensively for operational roles.
The project is also expected to stimulate demand for local services, supporting the growth of Gibraltar's digital and technology sectors, as well as its attractiveness as a destination for international business and investment
The facility is the first to be developed by Pelagos Data Centres and will be built to Tier III standards as defined by the independent Uptime Institute organisation, ensuring high availability and reliability. Sustainability will also be central to the project.
“This is the most significant infrastructure investment in Gibraltar since the early 1990s, when the GSLP Government brought state-of-the-art telecommunications as inward investment from the United States and made possible the creation of a centre for online services. Then, we future-proofed Gibraltar’s economy. Today, we are doing so again,” says the Hon. Sir Joe Bossano, Minister for Economic Development and Inward Investment.
He adds: “The technology of the future - on which every advanced economy will depend - will be Artificial Intelligence. AI requires data, processing power, and energy resources on a scale never before seen.
“The Ministry for Economic Development will put all its resources at the service of this initiative to ensure that it is delivered in the shortest possible time. In this field, speed of delivery is everything. Gibraltar should be the fastest jurisdiction on the planet when it comes to delivery.”