Thailand has suspended construction of 49 data centres following public concerns over their high power consumption and potential impacts on local communities. The suspension will allow authorities to develop new regulations aimed at establishing a more sustainable operating environment for the data centre industry, with the rules expected within a month.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the government remains open to data centre investment but wants clear and consistent standards for sustainable growth. Thailand’s Board of Investment approved 88 AI and data centre projects worth THB886 billion (USD27 billion) in the first half of 2026, exceeding the THB623 billion approved for the full year of 2025.
