Planned TSMC Kaohsiung fabs pass initial environment impact assessment

Kaohsiung, Feb. 13 (CNA) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) cleared the first stage of an environmental impact assessment for its planned fourth and fifth wafer fabs in Kaohsiung, the city's Environmental Protection Bureau said Thursday.

The bureau said in a statement that TSMC's environmental impact plan regarding expanding its production site in Nanzih passed during a public review on Thursday morning.

TSMC began equipment installation at its first fab in Kaohsiung, a 2-nanometer plant known as P1 late last year. The P2 and P3 fabs are under construction.

The new facilities -- P4 and P5 -- will be built next to P3 and construction is expected to be completed in 2027 -- as long as governmental approval is obtained.

During Thursday's review, civic and environmental groups raised concerns regarding the planned TSMC fabs' impact on Kaohsiung's carbon reduction, green energy and water usage targets, the bureau said.

In response, TSMC promised to power 60 percent of its Kaohsiung operations with renewable energy by 2030 and 100 percent by 2040, the bureau said.

Meanwhile, the city government plans to build a plant for recycling water for industrial use, helping TSMC facilities meet their goal of manufacturing chips with 100 percent recycled water, the bureau added.

According to the statement, TSMC also agreed to the city government's proposal to build solar power facilities for local residents to help reduce their electricity bills.

According to the bureau, the chipmaker also plans to implement air pollution monitoring.

The bureau said it will soon hold the final public review to complete the environmental impact assessment for the P4 and P5 facilities, which still require development, construction and other permits before the expansion can proceed.