Land plots containing large data centers may receive special protection against compulsory seizure for state and municipal needs. The proposal has been included in the draft roadmap Gilotina 2.0 for the data center sector.
The ban is planned to come into force on 15 December 2027. Facilities with capacity of 500 kW and above that are entered in the Russian registry of data centers would fall under the protection, according to information obtained by Vedomosti.
The amendments are intended to prevent the demolition of an operating facility for the sake of comprehensive territory development. A data center cannot simply be disassembled in the evening and moved to a neighboring plot.
The Association of Data Center Industry Participants considers the 500 kW threshold unjustified, pointing out that no standardized method yet exists to separate IT load from total electrical capacity. The association also criticizes the linkage to the registry, noting that participation remains voluntary and therefore protection may not cover all facilities.
The Coordination Council of Data Centers supports the threshold, arguing that guarantees should primarily cover large and difficult-to-replace sites. Should land release still prove necessary, the initiator of new construction would be required to provide an equivalent plot or finance its creation.
Compensation would extend beyond walls and server racks. Reimbursement is proposed to include construction of a new data center, relocation of equipment and IT load, reservation of power capacities, laying of communication lines and power grids, as well as losses arising from early termination of client contracts.
The initiative has received support from RTK-COD, MTS, and Megafon, although the operators also oppose mandatory registry linkage. The issue is especially acute in Moscow, where local data centers operate at approximately 95 percent capacity and free power resources are nearly exhausted, forcing new sites to be built in the regions.
