Sesterce Plans €10B AI Data Centre Campus in Finland, Transforming Former Paper Mill Site

Sesterce Commits €10 Billion to Transform Finnish Paper Mill Into AI Data Centre

French AI infrastructure company Sesterce has announced plans to invest more than €10 billion ($11.21 billion) in developing an AI data centre campus in Jämsä, central Finland1

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. The ambitious project will repurpose the Kaipola paper mill site, where UPM shut down operations in early 2021, transforming it into a major hub for AI computing infrastructure. This Sesterce AI investment represents one of the largest foreign investments in Finland's rapidly expanding technology sector and signals the country's emergence as a strategic location for AI data centre development.

Phased Expansion From 200MW to 1GW AI Capacity

The AI data centre campus will be built in phases, with construction of the first 200-megawatt facility scheduled to begin in 20261

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. Sesterce has already secured an anchor customer for this initial phase, demonstrating market demand for AI computing capacity in the Nordic region. The second phase will expand capacity to 600MW, while the company's long-term vision includes building more than 1GW AI capacity across multiple existing industrial sites in Finland. This phased approach allows Sesterce to scale infrastructure in line with market demand while minimizing risk. The former paper mill site offers critical advantages including existing power grid connections, water systems, buildings, and logistics infrastructure that can be repurposed for data centre operations.

Strategic Reuse of Former Paper Mill Site Creates Economic Opportunities

Youssef El Manssouri, CEO of Sesterce, emphasized the project's role in preserving the area's industrial identity: "For more than six decades, the Kaipola paper mill produced paper for the world. Now, a new generation of industry is being planned for the site. Our goal is to preserve the area's industrial identity while making use of existing infrastructure"1

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. The investment in Finland is expected to create approximately 2,000 jobs during construction and 300 permanent positions once operational, with Sesterce planning to hire mostly Finnish contractors. Kaipola Green Port, which purchased the site from UPM in 2021, is in advanced negotiations to sell the entire property to Sesterce, according to board chair Martti Inkovaara. Jämsä Mayor Jori Reijula welcomed the development, stating the project represents "an interesting opportunity to strengthen the vitality of the region, provided it progresses from plans to implementation and meets the applicable requirements"1

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Renewable Energy Commitment and Local Investment Fund

Sesterce has pledged to add one megawatt of new renewable energy to the grid for every megawatt the campus consumes over the next decade1

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. This commitment addresses growing concerns about the environmental impact of energy-intensive AI infrastructure and positions the project as a net contributor to Finland's clean energy capacity. Additionally, the AI infrastructure company will establish a €10 million fund to support local projects in the Jämsä region, demonstrating a commitment to community development beyond direct employment. These initiatives reflect industry recognition that large-scale data centre projects must deliver tangible benefits to host communities while minimizing environmental impact.

Finland Emerges as Nordic AI Infrastructure Hub Amid Growing Foreign Investment