Cabinet to Review Data Center Regulations on November 10
Thailand's Cabinet will review new data center regulations on November 10, following a policy committee meeting in late October. The draft policy creates a centralized tracking system, classifies facilities into seven tiers by power use, and sets escalating standards for land use, utilities, environment, and social impact. The rules aim to boost the digital economy while protecting national resources and communities.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira revealed that the Ministry of Finance will submit data center supervision policy guidelines to the Cabinet for consideration on November 10. This follows the Data Center Policy Committee meeting on October 27, which laid out a framework for systematic oversight alongside resource and social safeguards.
Key points of the draft policy include: 1. Centralizing government data on a single platform (Dashboard TH-DC), tasking the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society with aggregating approval and permit data from all state agencies to ensure unified project tracking. 2. Classifying data centers into seven tiers based on power consumption to match project scale: Tier 1 (0-0.5 MW), Tier 2 (0.5-5 MW), Tier 3 (5-10 MW), Tier 4 (10-20 MW), Tier 5 (20-50 MW), Tier 6 (50-200 MW), and Tier 7 (over 200 MW). 3. Enforcing minimum standards across four areas: site location and land use (including backup fuel), power and water connections, environmental standards (Code of Practice), and economic and social benefits. Tiers 1-4 follow basic criteria and may locate in commercial zones, while Tiers 5-7 face stricter requirements.
The minister emphasized the importance of knowing where data centers operate, ensuring proper oversight, quantifying national resource usage, and enabling smooth transitions. Compliant investors can proceed, while violators must rectify issues. The regulation aims to create a clear transition that enhances Thailand's economic value and capabilities without burdening citizens, society, or the environment.
