\n<\/p>\n
A Finnish authority on Tuesday ordered work on two of Google\u2019s data centre sites in the country halted until mandatory environmental impact assessments have been completed.<\/strong><\/p>\n The US tech giant announced in September a 13-billion-euro ($15-billion) investment in digital infrastructure Finland over the next two years to power its AI ambitions.<\/p>\n Google has called the data centre projects in the municipalities of Muhos, Vaala, Kajaani and Hamina its single biggest investment in Europe.<\/p>\n But the Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV) said it had demanded that Tuike Finland, a company representing Google, \u201cimmediately suspend, and no later than 23 October 2026, all preparatory measures that would significantly alter the environment in connection with the planned data centre projects in Muhos and Kajaani\u201d.<\/p>\n The agency\u00a0has been investigating whether Tuike Finland cleared hundreds of hectares of forest in Muhos and Kajaani without a mandatory environmental impact assessment.<\/p>\n When AFP visited the Muhos site last week, the chair of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, Hanna Halmeenpaa, said \u201cnature sites which should be preserved\u201d had been logged in a deforested area of more than 300 hectares (741 acres).<\/p>\n Tuike Finland must provide an explanation and detail how it intends to proceed by October 14.<\/p>\n If it fails to comply with the demand, the agency said it may initiate \u201cenforcement proceedings.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the head of LVV\u2019s environment department Tommi Muilu, trees have been removed, topsoil stripped, site roads and storage areas constructed and ditches altered.<\/p>\n Google spokesman Sondre Ronander acknowledged the company\u2019s shortcomings.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand the concerns and have fallen short of our own high standards in this instance,\u201d he said in a statement sent to AFP.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will study the LVV\u2019s findings and follow their guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n He added the company had \u201cacted in good faith\u201d and implemented environmental surveys and measures.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we continue our long-term work in the region, we are advancing our landscaping and biodiversity plans, which include tree planting across 130 hectares at Muhos,\u201d Ronander said.<\/p>\n Finland\u2019s Minister of the Environment and Climate Sari Multala said Google\u2019s projects will likely be delayed due to the problems with the environmental assessments.<\/p>\n Multala told\u00a0newspaper Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday that \u201cthis is a serious matter: all companies operating in Finland must comply with the law. In this case, that has not happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n