Democrat Party Criticizes EEC Progress and Data Center Planning

On September 5, 2026, Phasin Pitutecha, Deputy Spokesperson for the Democrat Party, publicly criticized the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project, labeling it a failure after eight to nine years of operation. Phasin cited a lack of government continuity and insufficient attention to local issues as primary causes for the project's stagnation. Specifically, he highlighted the ongoing struggle to remove industrial waste in Ban Khai District, Rayong, noting that the government’s 400-million-baht budget allocation for waste removal—spread over eight years—is insufficient to address the immediate concerns of local residents.

Furthermore, the Democrat Party addressed the proliferation of data centers within the EEC. Phasin argued that Bangkok should not host such facilities due to energy consumption concerns. He proposed that data centers should be separated from residential power grids to prevent supply strain. Additionally, he urged the Board of Investment (BOI) to implement stricter criteria for data center approvals, emphasizing that these projects must prioritize hiring local workers and ensuring that investment capital directly benefits the surrounding communities.

For residents and those living in the EEC area, these comments highlight ongoing debates regarding industrial infrastructure and environmental management. It remains to be confirmed how the government will respond to these criticisms and whether any adjustments will be made to the current BOI approval processes for future data center projects.