Google has been ordered to temporarily stop work on two datacentres in Finland due to its failure to conduct necessary environmental impact assessments (EIAs) at its construction sites. The planned datacentres in Muhos and Kajaani are part of a €13 billion (£11 billion) project aimed at addressing the growing demand for online infrastructure.
Environmental Concerns
The halt comes after it was revealed that Tuike Finland Oy, the company representing Google, had cleared 330 hectares (815 acres) of forest in Muhos without completing an EIA. In Kajaani, logging activities have reportedly affected just under 200 hectares (494 acres) of land. The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation criticized the situation, stating that the sites had been reduced to "sand," attributing the oversights to an "overheated" market for new datacentres.
Regulatory Action
On Tuesday, the Finnish Licensing and Supervision Authority (LVV) issued a notice to Google, mandating the immediate suspension of any preparatory measures that significantly alter the environment of the two sites by October 23. Google is required to submit a written explanation by next Wednesday. The ongoing EIA is expected to be completed later this year.
