The Official Gazette of Extremadura (DOE) published on Monday, November 17, a decree declaring as Premia (Business Project of Regional Interest) an initiative presented by the company Data Riocaya SLU to launch a huge data computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) center that will be in Badajoz.
This company will allocate an investment of 1,913 million euros to this initiative and will promote the creation of some 330 jobs, according to a publication Europa Press. As a key date, it is expected to be completed in 2031. This is a project that the Governing Council of the Extremaduran Government described as “innovative” and that “will contribute to the digital transformation and modernization of the business fabric in the region,” as this administration published in a statement sent to the media.
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In total, it will occupy 222,735 square meters in the Southwestern European Logistics Platform. The project will launch a modern data center with new computing and AI, what is called ‘AI Factory’ with the capacity to access the electrical grid of up to 300 megawatts, expandable to 500. This design includes a 220/30 kilowatt electrical substation, another 400/220 KV link and high-voltage lines so that supply is not lacking.
With this qualification, there are now 12 strategic projects with ‘Premia’ recognition in the region. Thanks to this, they develop faster, carrying out fewer procedures and improving administrative deadlines.
The project will start next year
As reported hybridandelectricthe forecast is that construction will begin in 2026 to finish and start operating in 2031. The Data Riocaya company is based in Cáceres and is related to the Nostrum Group, which has been carrying out data centers and engineering for many years.
In May 2025, they submitted the request for this project to be given the ‘Premia’ category and the Governing Council, after considering the favorable reports, approved this classification on November 11.
The new data center will be developed on five plots of the South West European Logistics Platform, which has both road and rail connections and is expected to serve as a key point in industrial relations right next to Portugal.
330 full-time jobs
Regarding personnel, it is expected that this data and AI center will employ 330 full-time people, to which will be added the indirect positions that will need to be hired in the construction phase and to work with suppliers and services.
Thus, during the first presentations of this initiative, approximately 2,000 workers were mentioned. For the Government of Extremadura, having this center means taking a step forward in what has to do with the technological potential of this Autonomous Community.
Although it is a large-scale project, it is not the only one planned and others are expected in Navalmoral de la Mata and Valdecaballeros.
Energy efficiency and sustainability
Both the company and the Extremadura Government have insisted that the construction and subsequent start-up of this center will be carried out respecting the criteria of sustainability and energy efficiency.
They highlight that renewable sources will be used and that it is expected that, in a short time, it will be considered one of the most complete data centers in Spain that are destined to work with Artificial Intelligence.