Google parent company Alphabet (GOOGL) has been ordered to stop work on two data centres it’s developing in Finland.
Notice of the cease work order comes a month after Alphabet committed to invest $15 billion U.S. in artificial intelligence (A.I.) infrastructure in the European nation.
The Finnish Licensing and Supervision Agency has issued a notice to Alphabet subsidiary, Tuike Finland Oy, to suspend work on the data centre project.
The stop work order is apparently related to environmental impact assessments that have not been completed.
The suspension of work applies to the removal of trees and topsoil, as well as the excavation, quarrying and crushing of stone, and the building of roads.
“We understand the concerns and have fallen short of our own high standards in this instance,” said Alphabet in a media statement.
Alphabet must stop work on the two data centres in Finland no later than Oct. 23 of this year.
Finland has emerged as a key location for data centres in Europe amid the global A.I. boom, with technology companies such as Alphabet prizing its available land and power supplies.
Several data centres offering hundreds of megawatts of power have been announced in the European country.
Alphabet’s $15 billion U.S. data centres in Finland are its largest ever investment in Europe. The two data centres had been scheduled to come online in 2028.
GOOGL stock has risen 42% in the last 12 months to trade at $347.68 U.S. per share.
