Academic urges Data Center Act to screen investment in Thailand

Khaosod•Economy•6d ago

Reader Briefing

An academic from Thammasat University suggests Thailand enact a specific Data Center Act to regulate investments and promote local content.

•Assistant Professor Non Nuchmon of Thammasat University warns that Thailand lacks regulations for the data center industry.
•Thailand is identified as the only ASEAN country accepting data centers broadly without conditions or green data center frameworks.
•The proposal includes creating a Data Center Act to screen investors and mandate the use of local materials and technology.
•Potential impacts include massive electricity consumption, water demand, land price increases in the EEC, and electronic waste issues.

•Assistant Professor Non Nuchmon of Thammasat University states that Thailand currently lacks rules to control the data center industry.
•Thailand is the only country in ASEAN that opens to data centers broadly without conditions, unlike Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
•Assistant Professor Non Nuchmon proposes that the government issue a Data Center Act or specific laws to reduce complexity for investors.
•Establishing local content requirements for materials and technology is proposed to integrate Thai entrepreneurs into the supply chain.
•Data centers consume vast amounts of electricity, which may cause Thailand to miss greenhouse gas reduction targets.
•The data center industry affects water demand, land prices in the EEC, and electronic waste management.
•The government should conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and a large-scale economic impact assessment.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Non Nuchmon(นนท์ นุชหมอน)

An assistant professor at the Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University.

Thammasat University(มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์)ℹ️

The university where Assistant Professor Non Nuchmon teaches at the Faculty of Economics.

Data Center Board(บอร์ดดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์)

The body urged by Assistant Professor Non Nuchmon to accelerate the establishment of policy frameworks.

Data Center Act(พ.ร.บ.ดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์)

A proposed law to regulate the data center industry and screen investors in Thailand.

An area where data center investments may affect land prices.

Singapore(สิงคโปร์)ℹ️

An ASEAN country mentioned as having conditions or frameworks for data centers.

Malaysia(มาเลเซีย)ℹ️

An ASEAN country mentioned as having conditions or frameworks for data centers.

Indonesia(อินโดนีเซีย)ℹ️

An ASEAN country mentioned as having conditions or frameworks for data centers.