Thammasat Academic Proposes Data Center Act for Local Content

Matichon•Economy•20d ago

Reader Briefing

A Thammasat University lecturer proposes a specific Data Center Act to regulate investments and promote the use of local content.

•Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon suggested creating a specific Data Center Act to reduce legal complexity and clearly define Thailand's goals.
•Thailand currently lacks a green data center or sustainability framework, unlike Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
•The proposal includes requiring a specific proportion of local content to integrate Thai entrepreneurs into the supply chain.
•Potential impacts of rapid data center growth include increased electricity and water demand, land price hikes in the EEC, and environmental waste.

Overview

•On September 2, Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon of Thammasat University discussed the need for data center regulations.
•Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon stated that Thailand acts as an open door for data center industries without clear conditions for investors.
•Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon recommended the Data Center Business Policy Committee coordinate with agencies to establish clear policy frameworks.
•A specific Data Center Act is proposed by Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon to reduce the fragmentation of existing laws and clarify costs and benefits for investors.
•Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon warned that without local content requirements, benefits are limited to short-term construction and real estate industries.
•Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon noted that data center energy needs may hinder Thailand's greenhouse gas reduction goals as the current grid relies on fossil fuels.
•The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is identified by Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon as an area heavily occupied due to high interest from data center investors.
•Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon suggested the government conduct Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and macro-economic impact assessments.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Matichon (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon

"It turns out that Thai entrepreneurs who produce technology for data centers now have to seek out markets from the data center investors themselves."

กลายเป็นว่าตอนนี้ผู้ประกอบการของไทยที่ผลิตเทคโนโลยีใช้ในดาต้าเซนเตอร์ก็ต้องเข้าไปหาตลาดในผู้มาลงทุนดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์เอง

Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon

"The government should be the one to look at these impacts in advance through Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)."

ภาครัฐควรเป็นผู้ที่มองผลกระทบเหล่านี้ในเชิงล่วงหน้า ผ่านการประเมินสิ่งแวดล้อมในเชิงยุทธศาสตร์ (SEA)

Key Entities

Person

Non Nuchmon(นนท์ นุชหมอน)

Assistant Professor and lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University.

Organization

Thammasat University(มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์)ℹ️

The university where Asst. Prof. Non Nuchmon serves as a lecturer.

Data Center Business Policy Committee(คณะกรรมการนโยบายการประกอบกิจการดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์)

The committee that should accelerate policy framework coordination and regulation updates.

Law

Data Center Act(พ.ร.บ.ดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์)

A proposed specific law to control data centers and reduce legal complexity.

Place

Singapore(สิงคโปร์)ℹ️

An ASEAN country that has implemented measures to slow the influx of the data center industry.

Malaysia(มาเลเซีย)ℹ️

An ASEAN country that has implemented measures to slow the influx of the data center industry.

Indonesia(อินโดนีเซีย)ℹ️

An ASEAN country that has implemented measures to slow the influx of the data center industry.

Eastern Economic Corridor(เขตพัฒนาพิเศษภาคตะวันออก)ℹ️

An area in Thailand facing high land occupation due to data center investment interest.