Philippine Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has declared that connecting the proposed Pax Silica artificial intelligence data center to the national grid would be "too dangerous," citing the facility's massive 3 gigawatt power requirement.
The intervention signals a significant hurdle for the project, which was pitched by US and Philippine officials as a strategic gateway for AI and critical minerals in Southeast Asia.
The decision underscores the growing tension between rapid technological expansion and existing energy infrastructure capacity.
A 3GW load represents a substantial portion of a national grid's capacity, raising immediate concerns about stability and safety protocols.
Garin's stance suggests that regulatory approval for such high-consumption facilities will require rigorous stress-testing and potentially significant grid upgrades before connection is permitted.
This development adds to the scrutiny surrounding the Philippines' ambition to host major high-tech hubs.