Government to Regulate Data Centers and Close Legal Loopholes

Khaosod•Politics•11d ago

Reader Briefing

The Thai government is establishing stricter regulations for data centers after discovering legal loopholes and illegal fuel storage at a facility on Rama 9 Road.

•Anutin Charnvirakul has appointed Ekniti Nitithanprapas to chair a Data Center Policy Committee meeting on September 4.
•Authorities discovered approximately 200,000 liters of unauthorized fuel storage at a data center on Rama 9 Road.
•The Department of Energy Business will file a legal complaint on September 3 regarding the illegal fuel storage.
•The government aims to integrate oversight across multiple agencies covering building use, fuel storage, and safety.

Overview

•Anutin Charnvirakul expressed concern that some operators may request permits for warehouses but later operate them as data centers to avoid safety and environmental regulations.
•Anutin Charnvirakul appointed Ekniti Nitithanprapas as the chairperson for the Data Center Policy Committee meeting.
•Ekniti Nitithanprapas is scheduled to lead a meeting on September 4 to review laws and set industry standards.
•The Ministry of Energy inspected a data center on Rama 9 Road following complaints about fuel storage.
•Officials removed approximately 200,000 liters of fuel from the Rama 9 Road facility because storage exceeding 15,000 liters requires a permit.
•The Department of Energy Business will file a formal complaint on September 3 to pursue legal action against the operator.
•Ratchada Thanadirek stated that rapid industry growth requires updated regulations because current oversight is split across multiple agencies without a linking mechanism.

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Key Quotes

Ratchada Thanadirek

"The government supports investment in the data center industry, which is important to the country's digital economy, but investment must proceed under the law and clear safety standards."

รัฐบาล สนับสนุนการลงทุนใน อุตสาหกรรมดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์ ซึ่งมีความสำคัญต่อ เศรษฐกิจดิจิทัล ของประเทศ แต่การลงทุนต้องดำเนินไปภายใต้กฎหมาย และมาตรฐานความปลอดภัยที่ชัดเจน

Key Entities

Person

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior who is monitoring data center operations.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)ℹ️

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance appointed to chair the Data Center Policy Committee.

Ratchada Thanadirek(รัชดา ธนาดิเรก)

The Spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister.

Organization

Data Center Policy Committee(คณะกรรมการนโยบายการประกอบกิจการ ดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์)

A board tasked with reviewing laws and setting standards for the data center industry.

Ministry of Energy(กระทรวงพลังงาน)ℹ️

The ministry that inspected the illegal fuel storage at a data center on Rama 9 Road.

Department of Energy Business(กรมธุรกิจพลังงาน)

The agency responsible for filing a legal complaint regarding unauthorized fuel storage.

Place

Rama 9 Road(ถนนพระราม 9)ℹ️

The location of the data center found to be illegally storing fuel.