Southeast Asia's datacentre expansion, once thriving, is now experiencing significant setbacks due to power and water constraints. Thailand has halted construction on numerous projects, while Indonesia has paused a major datacentre due to permitting issues. The region, which has seen a surge in demand driven by AI, is now grappling with resource pressures that threaten future growth.
As countries like Malaysia and Thailand ramp up their datacentre capacities, concerns over environmental impacts and resource consumption are rising. Local communities are increasingly vocal about the potential negative effects, prompting operators to seek more sustainable practices amid tightening regulations.
Watch for how local communities continue to respond to datacentre developments, especially in Johor and Thailand, where resource depletion concerns are rising. Operators may need to adopt more sustainable practices to address public pressure and regulatory scrutiny.