Project Matador: Donald Trump-named data centre plan hits setbacks

Construction has not properly started yet

Plans for what has been billed as the world’s largest data centre - also carrying Donald Trump’s name - appear to be running into trouble. According to Axios, the Project Matador data centre initiative, also referred to as the President Donald J. Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus, has encountered several setbacks, including the departure of its chief executive.

The executive in question led Fermi America, the company responsible for delivering the scheme. In October, the firm raised almost $750 million through an IPO to fund construction of the facility, which it described as the biggest data centre on the planet.

Fermi America had originally told investors it expected to generate $1.5 billion in revenue for every 1 GW of capacity built. The company said it would bring the first capacity online - located across more than 90,000 sq m - by April this year, and reach 1 GW of power generation by the end of the year.

However, satellite imagery from Cleanview indicates that work on the first buildings has not even begun. On top of that, Toby Neugebarger has recently left the company as chief executive. Earlier, in February, media reports also mentioned redundancies at the site, which is notable given the severe shortage of skilled personnel.

In addition, the project still does not have a tenant. In November it was reported that Amazon would take that role, but in November the company pulled out of the arrangement, after which Fermi America shares fell sharply.