Energy Minister orders Bangkok Data Center inspections

MGR Online•Economy•18d ago

Reader Briefing

Energy Minister Akanat Promphan orders a comprehensive inspection of all Data Centers in Bangkok following the discovery of unauthorized fuel storage.

•The Department of Energy Business filed charges against Rama 9 Data Center executives for unauthorized fuel storage on September 3, 2026.
•Inspections revealed six oil tanks totaling approximately 200,000 liters at a Rama 9 Data Center basement.
•Minister Akanat Promphan announced a Bangkok-wide sweep of Data Centers to ensure safety and legal compliance.
•The Cabinet resolved on August 5 to establish a Data Center committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

Overview

•The Department of Energy Business filed a legal complaint at Makkasan Police Station on September 3, 2026, against executives of a Data Center in the Rama 9 area.
•Officials found six oil tanks with a capacity of 40,000 liters each, totaling approximately 200,000 liters of unauthorized fuel at the Rama 9 site.
•Akanat Promphan stated that some oil tanks had been installed since 2020, indicating a problem accumulated over 3-4 years.
•Akanat Promphan coordinated with Chadchart Sittipunt to suspend relevant operations during the inspection process.
•Akanat Promphan warned that operating without a permit carries a maximum prison sentence of 2 years.
•Akanat Promphan estimated that a full system inspection of Data Centers will take several months.
•The Cabinet resolved on August 5 to issue Prime Minister's Office regulations and establish a Data Center committee.

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Key Quotes

Akanat Promphan

"If oil is used for backup power generation in Bangkok community areas, it cannot be done. Therefore, a new organization is required."

หากนำน้ำมันมาปั่นไฟสำรองใช้ในพื้นที่ชุมชน กทม. ทำไม่ได้ ดังนั้นต้องจัดระเบียบใหม่

Key Entities

Person

Akanat Promphan(เอกนัฏ พร้อมพันธุ์)ℹ️

Minister of Energy who ordered the inspection of Data Centers in Bangkok.

Chadchart Sittipunt(ชัชชาติ สิทธิพันธุ์)ℹ️

Governor of Bangkok who discussed suspending operations during Data Center inspections.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance tasked with overseeing the new Data Center organization.

Organization

Department of Energy Business(กรมธุรกิจพลังงาน)

The agency responsible for inspecting fuel storage and filing charges against the Rama 9 Data Center executives.

Ministry of Energy(กระทรวงพลังงาน)ℹ️

The ministry overseeing the regulation and inspection of Data Center fuel storage.

Cabinet(คณะรัฐมนตรี)

The body that resolved on August 5 to establish a Data Center committee.

Ministry of Finance(กระทรวงการคลัง)ℹ️

The ministry headed by Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

Place

Rama 9(พระราม9)ℹ️

The area in Bangkok where the unauthorized fuel storage at a Data Center was found.

Bangkok(กรุงเทพมหานคร)ℹ️

The city where the government is conducting a wide-scale Data Center audit.

Makkasan Police Station(สน.มักกะสัน)

The police station where the Department of Energy Business filed charges.

Law

Fuel Control Act 1999(พ.ร.บ. ควบคุมน้ำมันเชื้อเพลิง พ.ศ. 2542)

The law under which the Rama 9 Data Center executives were charged for unauthorized fuel storage.