Finnish authorities told Google to suspend preparatory work on two planned data centres pending environmental reviews, after the company unveiled a €13 billion investment in the country’s AI infrastructure.

The Finnish Licencing and Supervision Agency (LVV) issued a notice to Google subsidiary Tuike Finland Oy to immediately suspend the data centre projects in Kajaani and Muhos regions “until the environmental impact assessment procedures for the projects have been completed”.

Tommi Muilu, head of the authority’s environmental department, stated available reports indicated extensive preparatory work had already taken place at the project sites, including tree and topsoil removal, construction of site roads and storage areas, alterations to ditches and culverts, and stormwater works.

“In our opinion, the measures in question will change the environment and cause impacts, the identification and assessment of which are among the key objectives of the EIA procedure,” he stated.

The suspension request applies, among other things, to the removal of trees, removal of topsoil, excavation, quarrying, crushing, transfer of soil masses, drainage and the construction of construction site roads and storage areas.

The request does not apply to planning, measurements, soil surveys or other measures with minor impacts and that can be easily restored.

The notice to Tuike Finland Oy ordered it to suspend work no later than 23 October until the environmental impact assessment procedures have been completed.

“We understand the concerns and have fallen short of our own high standards in this instance,” a Google representative told CNBC, adding it will follow the LVV’s guidance.

In addition to the data centres, the digital infrastructure project also includes AI facilities, nuclear power and renewable energy as part of Google’s largest single outlay in Europe.

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