Data Center Risks and Fuel Storage in Bangkok

MGR Online•General•3h ago

Reader Briefing

Warnings have been raised regarding the safety risks of data centers in Bangkok that store massive amounts of diesel fuel in residential areas.

•The STT Bangkok 1 & 2 center in Ramkhamhaeng 28 stores 429,000 liters of diesel fuel.
•Data centers in Bangkok are clustered in inner and middle city zones rather than remote industrial areas.
•Private firms allegedly use 'warehouse' or 'commercial building' definitions to bypass building regulations and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).
•The Cabinet approved the establishment of the National Data Center Business Policy Committee on August 5, 2026.

Overview

•Suphanat Minchaiyanan and Nitiphumthanat Mingrujiralai warned that the 429,000 liters of diesel at the Ramkhamhaeng 28 data center act as a time bomb in the city center.
•Some data centers keep fuel storage below 500,000 liters to avoid strict controls under the Fuel Control Act and to bypass the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
•The Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have not yet defined 'Data Center' as a specific building type, leaving a legal vacuum for over 2 years.
•Total cumulative investment in data centers in Bangkok and surrounding areas by four main capital groups ranges from 165,000 to 295,000 million baht.
•Residents face risks including high-heat fires, toxic smoke, 24-hour noise pollution from cooling systems, and potential diesel leaks into the soil and drainage systems.
•The Cabinet approved the National Data Center Business Policy Committee on August 5, 2026, to manage economic, energy, and water impacts.
•Demands have been made for the government to disclose fuel storage volumes, noise pollution measurements, and the specific building definitions used in construction permits.

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Key Entities

Person

Suphanat Minchaiyanan(ศุภณัฐ มีนชัยนันท์)

An MP for Bangkok from the People's Party who warned about data center risks.

Nitiphumthanat Mingrujiralai(นิติภูมิธณัฐ มิ่งรุจิราลัย)

Also known as Tutor Moo, who raised concerns about fuel storage in data centers.

Chadchart Sittipunt(ชัชชาติ สิทธิพันธุ์)ℹ️

The Governor of Bangkok asked to explain the delay in the new city plan.

Organization

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

The political party to which Suphanat Minchaiyanan belongs.

Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning(กรมโยธาธิการและผังเมือง)ℹ️

The government agency responsible for building definitions and town planning.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration(กทม.)ℹ️

The local government authority responsible for issuing construction permits in Bangkok.

STT Bangkok

An operator of data centers including locations in Soi Ramkhamhaeng 28 and One Bangkok.

True IDC

A data center operator with facilities in True Tower on Ratchadaphisek Road and Phatthanakan Road.

AIS / CSL

Telecommunications groups with data centers at CyberWorld Tower and The Cloud center.

TCC Technology & AIMS

Data center operators located in Empire Tower and Smooth Life Tower on Sathon Road.

National Telecommunications agency with a facility at CAT Bangrak.

UIH & OneAs1a

Data center operators located at Benjasindha Building.

Telehouse & PROEN

Data center operators located on Khlong Bang Kapi Road and Srinakarin Road.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

The ministry overseeing the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Ministry of Energy(กระทรวงพลังงาน)ℹ️

The ministry overseeing the Department of Energy Business.

Department of Energy Business(กรมธุรกิจพลังงาน)

The agency responsible for issuing ministerial regulations on fuel control.

Ministry of Digital Economy and Society(กระทรวงดิจิทัลฯ (DES))ℹ️

A ministry involved in promoting digital economy investments.

BOI(บีโอไอ)

The Board of Investment that provides tax incentives to attract data center investments.

National Data Center Business Policy Committee(คณะกรรมการนโยบายการประกอบกิจการดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์)

A national committee established on August 5, 2026 to set frameworks for data center promotion and impact control.

Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning(สำนักงานนโยบายและแผนทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)

The agency responsible for EIA regulations under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Place

Soi Ramkhamhaeng 28(ซอยรามคำแหง 28)

The location of the STT Bangkok 1 & 2 data center storing 429,000 liters of diesel.

One Bangkokℹ️

The project on Wireless Road where STT Bangkok 3 is located.

Law

Fuel Control Act(พ.ร.บ.ควบคุมน้ำมันเชื้อเพลิง)ℹ️

The law regulating fuel storage, which has a strict control ceiling at 500,000 liters.