Thai PM Orders Strict Rules for Data Centers
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul orders immediate standards for data centers within 1 month, prohibiting city-center locations for safety reasons.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The Prime Minister mandates strict minimum standards for all data centers within 1 month
- New data center locations are strictly prohibited in city centers for safety reasons
- Currently, only 3 data centers in Bangkok are approved by the Board of Investment
At 4:05 PM on September 11 at Government House, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul returned from Parliament after thanking the Senate for approving the fiscal year 2027 budget bill, which had already passed the House of Representatives. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas accompanied him in the car, and the Prime Minister briefly greeted reporters upon arrival.
Prior to the Prime Minister's arrival, several key ministers and senior officials had already gathered for the meeting, led by Minister of Energy Eknat Promphan, Budget Bureau Director Anant Kaewกำเนิด (Kaewkamnerd), Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan, Permanent Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Raweewan Bhuridej, and Permanent Secretary for Digital Economy and Society Patchara Anantasilp.
"This is to report to the Prime Minister that today there is preliminary data integration regarding data centers. Today, we have assigned tasks to all subcommittees to establish minimum standards across economic, social, and environmental dimensions."
Ekniti Nitithanprapas
Later at 4:40 PM, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas briefed reporters following the meeting called by the Prime Minister. He stated that the government has instructed all subcommittees to formulate minimum standards within a 1-month timeframe, covering economic, social, and environmental dimensions, alongside cost-benefit analyses and the application of the Code of Practice environmental assessment.
The government's crackdown on data center regulations highlights the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure supporting cloud computing and AI in Southeast Asia. However, these facilities consume massive amounts of energy and water. Mandating suburban locations and clean energy usage marks a crucial step in balancing technological growth with the nation's energy security.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Regarding energy infrastructure, Ekniti revealed that the Ministry of Energy is overseeing electricity tariffs for data centers, requiring them to pay higher rates so that the surplus can help reduce living cost burdens for the general public. Additional investment conditions regarding clean energy usage will also be strictly enforced.
Another critical issue is location zoning. The government has ruled that future data centers must not be located in city centers and must undergo rigorous safety evaluations. Authorities noted that past operations exploited various loopholes across multiple sites, with official records showing that only 3 data centers currently operating within Bangkok hold proper approval from the Board of Investment (BOI).
Source: Matichon Politics
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