Thailand targets new data centre rules in about 1 month
Danucha Pichayanan says Thailand cannot halt ongoing data centre construction while drafting rules on water, electricity use and suitable locations
- Thailand's government aims to establish a new regulatory framework and minimum standards for data centres within approximately one month.
- The new rules will focus on resource efficiency, such as water and electricity use, and the impact on surrounding areas.
- Requirements will differ based on a data centre's size and location, with the framework designed to minimize disruption to existing operators and projects under construction.
Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), said on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) that officials aimed to clarify a regulatory framework and minimum standards for data centres in about one month. The work would address resource efficiency and effects on surrounding areas while seeking to minimise disruption to existing operators.
Speaking at Government House in Bangkok at 9.20am, Danucha said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas had convened a subcommittee meeting on Monday (September 14) to set an approximately one-month timetable for developing the standards.
Danucha cites limits on pausing ongoing construction
Danucha said the government could not introduce requirements ordering developers to stop or delay construction simply to await the new framework. He explained that private operators were responsible for applying for permits and deciding when to proceed with construction.
For projects already under construction, Danucha said officials would accelerate the preparation of requirements so developers could adjust their designs to the emerging framework, keeping the impact of those changes to a minimum.
For operating facilities and projects under construction, Danucha said officials were examining requirements governing water and electricity efficiency and associated impacts. He stressed that they would try to avoid disrupting data centres already in operation.
Location and size to shape data centre requirements
Danucha said suitable locations would need to be assessed against the availability of water and electricity. Officials would consider existing development and future projects, including whether additional conditions were needed to prevent facilities from becoming concentrated in particular areas and creating problems.
Danucha said the requirements must protect areas surrounding data centres. Site selection would therefore need further discussion alongside the resources required to support each development.
Thailand already had data centres of different sizes, including relatively small facilities operated by banks and telecommunications companies that were necessary for their businesses, Danucha explained.
Danucha said conditions would need to reflect those differences in scale. Very large data centres would need to be classified as industrial activities, while smaller facilities could fall under commercial use, with the detailed criteria still to be determined.
Outstanding information needed to complete the framework
Danucha said officials had received 80–90% of the information requested from relevant agencies, although some submissions remained outstanding. The review would examine existing operations, facility sizes and characteristics to establish clear definitions for data centres.
Danucha said officials would try to meet the one-month target, with the missing baseline information currently holding up the work. Once the submissions were complete, they would move quickly to finish the requirements so projects could proceed under a clearer framework.
