Thai Government to Inspect Data Centers Over Illegal Fuel Storage

MGR Online•General•9d ago

Reader Briefing

The Thai government is launching nationwide inspections of data centers following the discovery of illegal diesel fuel storage in Bangkok.

•The Department of Energy Business discovered 429,000 liters of diesel stored underground at a data center in Ramkhamhaeng 28, Bangkok.
•Minister Chaichanok Chidchob admitted several data centers in Bangkok are located in unauthorized areas.
•Between 2024-2026, the BOI approved 42 data center projects with a total value of approximately 750,000 million baht.

Overview

•Sarawut Kaewtathip, Director General of the Department of Energy Business, is establishing a special task force to inspect data centers nationwide.
•A data center in Ramkhamhaeng 28 stored 429,000 liters of diesel for backup generators near schools and residential areas.
•Sarawut Kaewtathip stated that storing diesel between 400,000 and 500,000 liters is classified as a storage site requiring strict permits, even if not a fuel depot.
•Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, is coordinating with the Royal Thai Police to investigate unauthorized setups and foreign capital involvement.
•Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, will discuss regulating the sector with Danucha Pichayanan after a Cabinet meeting.
•Sonthi Khotchawat reported that Thailand has 42 commercially operating data centers and approximately 60 in total including those in the pipeline.
•Sonthi Khotchawat identified legal loopholes where developers register data centers as warehouses or office buildings to bypass zoning laws.
•Sonthi Khotchawat noted that Thailand currently has no law requiring Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for data center projects.

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Key Quotes

Chaichanok Chidchob

"There are many other data centers in Bangkok located in unauthorized areas."

มีดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์อีกหลายแห่งใน กทม. ตั้งอยู่ในพื้นที่ที่ไม่ได้รับอนุญาต

Key Entities

Person

Sarawut Kaewtathip(สราวุธ แก้วตาทิพย์)

Director General of the Department of Energy Business.

Chaichanok Chidchob(ไชยชนก ชิดชอบ)ℹ️

Minister of Digital Economy and Society.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาส)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Chairman of the BOI board.

Danucha Pichayanan(ดนุชา พิชยนันท์)

Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council.

Sonthi Khotchawat(สนธิ คชวัฒน์)

An environmental academic.

Organization

Department of Energy Business(กรมธุรกิจพลังงาน)

The government agency responsible for inspecting data center fuel storage.

Ministry of Energy(กระทรวงพลังงาน)ℹ️

The ministry overseeing the Department of Energy Business.

Ministry of Digital Economy and Society(กระทรวงดิจิทัลเพื่อเศรษฐกิจและสังคม)ℹ️

The ministry investigating unauthorized data center installations.

Royal Thai Police(สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ)ℹ️

The agency coordinating with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society for deep inspections.

Ministry of Finance(กระทรวงการคลัง)ℹ️

The ministry headed by Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

BOI

The Board of Investment that provides investment promotion and tax benefits for data centers.

National Economic and Social Development Council(สภาพัฒน์)

The agency led by Danucha Pichayanan.

Place

Ramkhamhaeng 28(รามคำแหง 28)

A location in Bangkok where a data center was found storing massive amounts of diesel.

Bangkok(กทม.)ℹ️

The capital city where unauthorized data centers are located.

Eastern Economic Corridor(เขตพัฒนาพิเศษภาคตะวันออก)ℹ️

A special development zone where data center construction is supported.

EECℹ️

The abbreviated name for the Eastern Economic Corridor.