Thailand pauses 166 data center projects for new rules

Thailand just hit pause on 166 data center projects while it writes rules it never had. The national data centre policy committee, chaired by Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, froze construction on about 49 sites already being built and stopped permits for more than 117 others. The Nation reported the decision from the committee's first meeting on Friday, 4 September.

Thirty-five data centre projects or companies are already running, 11 of them under Board of Investment promotion. Those operating sites sit outside the pause.

The figures came from 16 agencies, and the meeting judged the detail too thin for regulation and monitoring. Many operators today file as warehouses, so the Department of Business Development has been told to create a dedicated data-centre registration category. An earlier idea to treat anything above 2MW as an industrial operation was called too small. The size rule is still open.

Four subcommittees covering Economic, Infrastructure, Sites and buildings, and Environment have one month to write minimum criteria. Existing operators are supposed to get transition time. Future projects may have to pitch against each other on local economic benefit and net-zero contribution.

IBTimes Thailand reports the legal hedge. NESDC secretary-general Danucha Pichayanan told AFP the government does not have power to forcibly suspend construction and is asking developers to cooperate.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said six capital projects applied, each needing 9 to 23 MW. Three already operate from 2022 to 2024. The remaining three stay on hold until national standards exist.

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