TSMC’emergency’ to supply semiconductors in extreme winter drought in Taiwan

Input 2021.02.25 14:22

Taiwan’s TSMC, the world’s No. 1 foundry (consigned semiconductor production) company, is struggling to maintain the process due to a severe winter drought, Japan’s NHK English version and Singapore CNA reported.

As the amount of precipitation decreased significantly compared to the average year, water for the semiconductor process became scarce, and emergency response such as arranging large water tank trucks was initiated.

In semiconductor processing, water is just as important as power. This is because vast amounts of water from the counterpart of’ultra-pure water’ are injected in each major process, such as the process of cutting wafers, which are raw materials for semiconductors, washing debris, and removing various chemicals. According to the industry, the higher the degree of semiconductor integration, the proportionally increased water consumption.

Summarizing foreign media reports, TSMC has started procuring external water in a situation where national water conservation measures have been implemented due to the recent winter drought. The number of 20 ton tank vehicles is spent on KRW 1.1 million per unit and is being used as process water.

According to the International Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Association (SEMI), TSMC is mobilizing a water tank truck due to production disruption due to water shortage in the 5 nanometer process. TSMC’s 5-nanometer (nm·1 billionth of a meter) and 7-nano chips are key pipelines that are close to 50% of total sales.

Local Taiwanese media are concerned that the water shortage may intensify until the dry season in May. According to the Taiwan Meteorological Bureau, an average of three to four typhoons a year land in Taiwan or enter the sphere of influence and cause enormous rain.

However, last year, all typhoons have bypassed Taiwan. As of mid-November last year, the typhoon that passed Taiwan recorded zero (0), the first time in 56 years in the history of Taiwanese weather observations.