TSMC’s plans to build a new chip factory for production at 3nm have been approved. This means that the company can begin construction on this facility, which will be located in the Southern Taiwan Science Park in the city of Tainan.
The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) initially objected to the water and energy policy of the future facility but gave the green light for the construction of the week. This TSMC 3nm facility is expected to be powered by about 20 percent renewable energy, and 50 percent of the water used comes from recycled sources.
Construction is expected to start around early 2022 with an investment of 600 billion Taiwanese dollars, or around 17 million euros. This amount is unusually low; perhaps it is a mistake in the press release or only part of the cost is meant here. The 5nm facility, located on the same campus and scheduled to go on stream in late 2019 or early 2020, will cost $3.6 billion and is expected to cost $17 billion.