Thailand Halts Data Center Projects Pending New National Regulations

Thailand wants more from its data center boom due to its huge demand

Thailand has frozen 166 data center projects, including 49 facilities already under construction and 117 awaiting official approval, as the government moves to establish a new national regulatory framework. The decision aims to develop comprehensive rules covering electricity, water usage, site selection, safety standards, and economic returns from these ventures. This pause followed a directive issued by the national data center policy board, which has tasked four specialized subcommittees with drafting these new standards within one month.

Officials indicated that the review became necessary due to significant gaps in available data concerning both operational and proposed data centers across the country. The initiative seeks to ensure that Thailand continues to attract investment while also guaranteeing that data centers contribute effectively to national development through job creation, technological advancements, and essential services. The subcommittees will specifically address economic benefits, infrastructure needs, site and location standards, and environmental protection.

The upcoming regulations are expected to cover critical aspects such as electricity demand, water consumption, construction safety, backup fuel storage, environmental impact, and appropriate distances from neighboring structures. The government is also considering applying industrial business-like rules to facilities consuming more than 2 megawatts of power. Plans include establishing a centralized system to track project locations, approval statuses, resource requirements, and planning rules, facilitating a comprehensive assessment of the cumulative effects of multiple facilities. Currently, 35 data centers are operating within Thailand.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul emphasized the economic significance of these facilities, stating, "data centers matter to Thailand's economy, although the government lacked complete information about existing facilities and planned developments." The government's objective is to gather full details on all data centers to inform future investment decisions and ensure greater value is derived from incoming projects. This regulatory pause is designed to guide future growth and does not signal an end to Thailand's broader data center ambitions.

Source: Originally reported by yahoo.com.

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