The world is facing a severe semiconductor crisis and the world leaders in the silicon market are fighting a war to fulfill the growing demand for chips in almost all consumer sectors. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is at the forefront of this war and working at its more than100 percent capacity to complete the chip orders.
However, the company seems to be running into its troubles during the manufacturing process in its home country. As we know, Taiwan is experiencing unprecedented Typhoons and drought during the time of writing and the condition seems to be worsening as the days go by. As such TSMC has announced plans to build a new facility to aid it during times of water shortages.
And the recent drought has reduced the company’s reservoir levels to dangerously low levels. However, the new facility is made by the company will certainly help deal with the water crisis in the future, however, it isn’t going to contribute to improving the shortage of semiconductors in the market. TSMC stated that the plant will be fully operational by 2024, and it will start limited operations by the end of this year.
However, as of now, the company has turned to water tankers to help meet some of its needs. These tankers have also been used to test groundwater for chip fabrication, a process that requires copious water use due to high purity standards and numerous chemicals involved in the process.
“It will gradually ramp up the treatment capacity of industrial wastewater and by 2024 will be able to generate 67,000 tons of water daily that can go back into the chipmaking process.”
According to the company’s previous reports of its water usage in the year 2019, the current water which the company is getting is only enough to enable TSMC to meet a little less than half of its needs. Cleaning water for the chipmaking process has high standards for purity. And the water shortage will eventually lead to more delays in the process of chip manufacturing.
