Oct 11, 2025 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
Kitee this week announced plans to sign a preliminary property purchase agreement with data center developer Scale42. The deal, to be discussed at a city meeting next week, concerns a 10-hectare plot in the northern part of the Kitee Puhos industrial area.
William Tasney, CEO of Scale42, said: "From the first discussions, Kitee has felt like a true partner – practical, welcoming, and forward-looking. Kitee is a place with strong industrial roots and pride. We want to be part of its next chapter, the transition to a digital economy and the creation of high-skill digital career paths that enable young people to build their future in their hometown. Finland's exceptionally clean and reliable electricity makes Kitee one of the best places in Europe to deploy the latest AI equipment responsibly. We are grateful to the city and the community for their support as we embark on this exciting project together."
"It has been a pleasure to discuss the possibility of building a data center in Kitee with Scale42 representatives. We are particularly impressed by how the people at Scale42 take into account local conditions and the local residents," Pekka Hirvonen, Mayor of Kitee, added. "Economically, the project will bring significant added value to the area through new jobs. The new company and jobs will strengthen the local community's faith in the future. The developing Puhos industrial area and Puhos port are strategic focus points for Kitee. Puhos is also an excellent location for other new companies. Scale42's data center is a perfect fit for the area."
