Thammasat academic urges fast data center regulation

Matichon•Economy•3d ago

Reader Briefing

A Thammasat University academic warns that lack of specific data center regulations may lead to resource conflicts and environmental oversight.

•Associate Professor Dr. Surasak Boonrueang identifies regulatory gaps in Thailand's data center governance regarding water and electricity use.
•The Data Center Business Policy Committee was announced in the Royal Gazette on August 13, 2026.
•Current data center operations may not be required to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) or be classified as factories under existing laws.
•Concerns exist regarding resource competition and power system instability in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

Overview

•The government established the Data Center Business Policy Committee and adjusted Board of Investment (BOI) benefit considerations to focus on water, electricity, and environmental impacts.
•The Data Center Business Policy Committee was announced in the Royal Gazette on August 13, 2026.
•Thailand currently lacks specific guidelines for supervising data center businesses, forcing agencies like the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Energy Regulatory Commission to use existing laws.
•Data centers are not currently designated as project types requiring an EIA based on electricity or water usage, though they may qualify based on size or location.
•Associate Professor Dr. Surasak Boonrueang warns that a lack of clear policy could lead to data center clustering, such as in Bangkok where at least 30 facilities are estimated to exist.
•In the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), adding data centers without a clear plan may cause resource competition, such as conflicts over reservoir construction or insufficient clean energy.
•Associate Professor Dr. Surasak Boonrueang suggests adjusting Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announcements to require EIAs for very large data centers and mandating reports on electricity, water, and greenhouse gas emissions.
•There is concern that the committee's structure, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, may result in slow policy implementation or prioritize investment over regulation.

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Key Entities

Person

Associate Professor Dr. Surasak Boonrueang(รศ. ดร.สุรศักดิ์ บุญเรือง)

A lecturer at the Natural Resources and Environmental Law Center of Thammasat University.

Organization

Thammasat University(มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์)ℹ️

The academic institution where Associate Professor Dr. Surasak Boonrueang teaches.

Natural Resources and Environmental Law Center(ศูนย์กฎหมายทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)

A center within Thammasat University where Associate Professor Dr. Surasak Boonrueang is a lecturer.

Data Center Business Policy Committee(คณะกรรมการนโยบายการประกอบกิจการดาต้าเซ็นเตอร์)

A government committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and announced in the Royal Gazette on August 13, 2026.

Board of Investment(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการส่งเสริมการลงทุน)

An agency (BOI) that has adjusted its guidelines for considering benefits for data center businesses.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

A government ministry involved in supervising data centers and issuing EIA-related announcements.

Energy Regulatory Commission(คณะกรรมการกำกับกิจการพลังงาน)

An agency (ERC) currently using existing laws to control data center businesses.

Local Administrative Organizations(องค์กรปกครองส่วนท้องถิ่น)

Local government entities involved in the supervision of data center businesses.

National Economic and Social Development Council(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการพัฒนาการเศรษฐกิจและสังคมแห่งชาติ)

An agency (NESDC) serving as the secretariat for the Data Center Business Policy Committee.

Law

Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act 1992 and Amendment (No. 2) 2018(พ.ร.บ.ส่งเสริมและรักษาคุณภาพสิ่งแวดล้อมแห่งชาติ พ.ศ. 2535 และที่แก้ไขเพิ่มเติม (ฉบับที่ 2) พ.ศ. 2561)

The law governing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system for projects.

Factory Act 1992 and Amendment 2019(พ.ร.บ.โรงงาน พ.ศ. 2535 และแก้ไขเพิ่มเติม พ.ศ. 2562)

The law used to determine if a business is classified as a factory.

Place

Bangkok(กรุงเทพมหานคร)ℹ️

An area estimated to have no fewer than 30 data centers.

Eastern Economic Corridor(โครงการเขตพัฒนาพิเศษภาคตะวันออก)ℹ️

A project area covering 3 provinces that serves as a base for original industries and New S-Curve industries.