Google has been ordered to halt construction on two datacentres in Finland after failing to complete required environmental impact assessments, according to the Guardian.
The stoppage affects planned facilities in Muhos and Kajanni, both part of a €13bn project spanning multiple sites in northern Finland. The datacentres form part of Google's broader infrastructure expansion to meet global demand for server capacity.
Finnish authorities issued the order because Google did not conduct the necessary environmental impact assessments at the construction sites before beginning work. The temporary halt represents a significant delay for one of the technology company's largest infrastructure investments in the region.
The project reflects intense competition for datacentre capacity globally. Tech companies require vast amounts of electricity and cooling infrastructure to support artificial intelligence systems and cloud computing services. Northern Finland has attracted such investments because of its cool climate, which reduces cooling costs, and access to renewable energy sources.
The order does not specify when Google may resume construction or what conditions must be met. The lack of environmental assessments suggests potential concerns about local water use, energy consumption, or ecosystem impacts that Finnish regulators wanted examined before work proceeded.
This case underscores growing tension between technology infrastructure expansion and environmental regulation in Europe. Northern European countries have become prime targets for datacentre development, but regulators face pressure to ensure projects meet environmental standards before approval.
Google has not publicly responded to the halt order according to the provided material.