British-owned data centre sparks concern with ‘illegal stockpile of 200,000 litres of diesel’ in Bangkok
A British-owned data centre sparked concerns for allegedly stockpiling 200,000 litres of diesel illegally for its backup generators.
The EDGNEX data centre (BKK01) was accused of violating fuel control laws as it stored the emergency fuel in unauthorised storage tanks in the Rama 9 area of Bangkok, Thailand.
Local media reported that the project was developed by British-backed company Daria Data Centre and Cloud Services Co Ltd., which was reportedly registered in December 2023. Ian Weldon and Wisam Nuri Sattar Al-Dabbagh were listed as corporate directors, while its parent company is based in the United Kingdom.
Energy officials inspected the data centre, near Praram 9 Hospital, on September 2, following complaints of fuel fumes causing health problems among residents in the area over the past two months.
The smell reportedly intensified during heavy rain, with some locals experiencing dizziness and vomiting.
Thitipat Chotidechachainan, secretary to the energy minister, said storage tanks with a combined capacity of 200,000 litres were found at the data centre without the required operating licences.
The fuel has been ordered removed as Thailand's Ministry of Energy filed a criminal complaint against the company on September 3.
Under the country's Fuel Control Act, storing more than 15,000 litres of fuel without authorisation is punishable by up to two years in jail, a fine of up to 200,000 baht, or both.
Secretary Thitipat said officials will discuss zoning criteria, building codes, and environmental and safety measures for urban data centres at a meeting of the Data Centre Policy Committee today, September 4.
Thai energy and environmental advocacy platform JustPow has identified 34 data centres across Bangkok, with a total estimated electricity demand of at least 247.2 megawatts and annual water consumption of 4.43 million cubic metres.
Many were allowed to be built in residential areas through regulatory loopholes.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said no new licences will be issued for additional data centres as authorities review the potential negative impacts of the facilities.
