Thailand targets mid-October data center rules and weighs 100 MW hyperscale threshold

Proposed rules would steer industrial-scale facilities into designated estates

Thailand aims to bring new data center rules into force by mid-October, with facilities classified as industrial operations required to locate in designated industrial estates under the proposed framework, according to Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council.

Danucha proposed defining hyperscale facilities as those using at least 100 MW of electricity. The national data center policy committee must decide the threshold and the size classifications that would determine which facilities face the industrial-estate requirement.

Agencies have submitted information on existing operators, facility sizes and average electricity and water consumption to support the rules. The Energy Ministry will determine controls on electricity use, Danucha said, while the location requirements are intended to protect households from the effects of large facilities.

The committee will move to drafting the policy once it has settled the supporting details. Danucha said a coordinated approval mechanism is also needed, with the lead agency still to be determined. Mid-October remains his target for implementation, rather than a confirmed statutory commencement date.

Thairath · The Nation