Azambuja, Portugal, July 31, 2026 (Lusa) - Portugal's Azambuja Municipal Council, in the north Lisbon region, has issued an unfavourable opinion on the classification of a planned data centre in Alcoentre as a Project of Potential National Interest (PIN), citing a lack of studies to assess the project, which is estimated to cost €2 billion.
The decision was taken at the last meeting of the municipal council, with the approval of a proposal by the council leadership (PS) to submit to the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP) an unfavourable opinion regarding the granting of PIN status for the «installation of a large-scale digital infrastructure».
The proposal was approved by a majority, with two PS councillors and the CDU councillor voting in favour, whilst one Socialist councillor abstained.
In protest, the two PSD councillors refused to take part in the vote, claiming a lack of transparency on the part of the council leadership, chaired by the Socialist Silvino Lúcio, as the Social Democratic councillors explained in a statement.
At issue is the implementation of a data centre, known as Azambuja DC, in the parish of Alcoentre, promoted by the French company Neoen – one of the world's leading producers of renewable energy – with a projected investment of €2 billion.
Speaking to Lusa, the deputy mayor of Azambuja, António Matos, explained that the municipality is not opposed to the installation of a data centre, but that at present «there are more doubts than certainties», at a time when «there is no environmental, noise or landscape impact assessment».
«What we did was tell AICEP that we were issuing an unfavourable opinion because the doubts outweigh the certainties. We couldn't simply give a blank cheque when there is so much still to be clarified,» he explained.
He warned that the proposed location for the investment, near Torre Bela, raises concerns about the impact on the local residents, «who are already affected by other infrastructure».
«Those people have already made so many sacrifices. They have the solar panels, they've had a tremendous struggle because of the high- and very-high-voltage power lines, they're going to have to put up with the high-speed rail line, and now this on top of it all?», he remarked.
Meanwhile, when contacted by Lusa, a source from the company Neoen stated that it respected the position of Azambuja Municipal Council, but pointed out that the opinion «refers to the process of the possible granting of PIN status, which is not binding, nor does it constitute a decision on the licensing or implementation of the project».
«The Azambuja DC is still at the preliminary study stage, and there is currently no final decision on its implementation. The necessary technical and environmental studies are underway to assess its feasibility and potential impacts, particularly in terms of noise, water, traffic, the landscape and biodiversity,» the company states.
According to the developer, the necessary technical, environmental and economic studies are under way to assess the feasibility of the infrastructure and its potential impacts, «notably in terms of noise, water, traffic, landscape and biodiversity».
«Neoen remains available to provide clarification to the municipality and present the technical details as the studies are completed,» the company assured.
With regard to water consumption, Neoen estimates an annual consumption of around 9,225 cubic metres, a figure which, according to the company, has been validated by Águas da Azambuja as compatible with the network's capacity.
Should this data centre go ahead, it is expected to create 200 permanent jobs and around 500 temporary jobs during construction.
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