Protests over 450mm fab

Protests have been held in Taiwan over TSMC’s plan to build a 450mm fab, reports the Taiwan Economic News.

The protests came from local residents and council representatives in the area near to the Central Taiwan Science Park near Taichung City where the 450mm fab is to be located.

The protesters complain that factories in the park are illegally discharging sewage at night, polluting the atmosphere and making the area susceptible to flooding.

It is said that it is expected the fab will cost US$13.7bn.

The administrators of the Central Taiwan Science Park say  it is planned that government investment of  US$232m in the park will create 7,000 jobs and annual revenues of $6.8bn by 2019 with semiconductor manufacturers being the biggest investgors.

TSMC’s intention is to start building the 450mm fab in Q1 2014.