Energy Ministry Finds Unlicensed Diesel at Rama 9 Data Center

Prachachat•Politics•5d ago

Reader Briefing

The Ministry of Energy ordered the removal of over 200,000 liters of unlicensed diesel from a Data Center in the Rama 9 area following community complaints.

•A Data Center near Rama 9 Hospital stored over 200,000 liters of diesel without a legal permit.
•Local residents reported strong fuel odors for over 2 months, causing some to experience dizziness and vomiting.
•The Department of Energy Business will file a legal complaint on September 3.
•The Ministry of Energy and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will prohibit fuel storage for emergency generators in urban community areas.

Overview

•Residents and shop owners near a Data Center on Rama 9 Road reported strong fuel odors for over 2 months, particularly during heavy rain.
•The fuel odors caused some individuals in the densely populated community to experience dizziness and vomiting.
•The Department of Energy Business found the Data Center stored over 200,000 liters of reserve diesel for emergency generators without a permit.
•The Department of Energy Business ordered the immediate removal of all fuel, and the operator has since emptied the tanks.
•The Department of Energy Business is scheduled to file a legal complaint on September 3 under the Fuel Control Act 1999.
•If found guilty, the penalty includes imprisonment for up to 2 years, a fine of up to 200,000 baht, or both.
•On September 4, the Ministry of Energy will propose that the NESDC, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, electricity, and water authorities establish zoning criteria and review safety measures for Data Centers.

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Source: Prachachat (Original)

Key Quotes

Thitiphat Chotidechachainan

"The Ministry of Energy is preparing to conduct widespread inspections of areas where complaints have been received or where there is suspicion of illegal fuel storage for Data Center generators in urban community areas."

กระทรวงพลังงานเตรียม ปูพรมตรวจสอบพื้นที่ที่ได้รับร้องเรียน หรือสงสัยว่ามีการลักลอบจัดเก็บน้ำมันเพื่อใช้เดินเครื่องกำเนิดไฟฟ้าของ Data Center ในเขตชุมชนเมือง

Key Entities

Organization

Ministry of Energy(กระทรวงพลังงาน)ℹ️

The government body conducting inspections of Data Center fuel storage and proposing new urban zoning policies.

Rama 9 Hospital(โรงพยาบาลพระราม 9)

A hospital located adjacent to the inspected Data Center.

Department of Energy Business(กรมธุรกิจพลังงาน)

The agency that discovered the unlicensed fuel storage and is filing the legal complaint.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration(กรุงเทพมหานคร)ℹ️

The local authority partnering with the Ministry of Energy to prohibit urban fuel storage and develop zoning criteria.

Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC)(สำนักงานสภาพัฒนาการเศรษฐกิจและสังคมแห่งชาติ (สศช.))

The agency requested to help develop zoning criteria for Data Centers.

Place

Rama 9(พระราม 9)ℹ️

The area where the unlicensed fuel storage Data Center was located.

Person

Akanat Promphan(เอกนัฏ พร้อมพันธุ์)ℹ️

The Minister of Energy who assigned the inspection of the Data Center.

Thitiphat Chotidechachainan(ฐิติภัสร์ โชติเดชาชัยนันต์)

The Secretary to the Minister of Energy who disclosed the inspection results.

Law

Fuel Control Act 1999(พระราชบัญญัติควบคุมน้ำมันเชื้อเพลิง พ.ศ. 2542)

The legislation under which the Data Center is being prosecuted for illegal fuel storage.