Construction of a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) packaging plant in Chiayi County has been halted following the discovery of suspected archeological ruins, local authorities said on Monday.
The discovery was made at the end of last month, during construction of the first of two planned packaging plants using sophisticated chip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS) technology at the Chiayi Science Park (嘉義科學園區) — the Chiayi section of the Southern Taiwan Science Park (南部科學園區).
Construction on the plant only began last month, and it was scheduled to begin production in 2028.
Photo: Lin Yi-chang, Taipei Times
In accordance with the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act (文化資產保存法), a review committee convened early this year and decided to halt construction of the fab while preservation plans are made.
A TSMC spokesperson on Monday said that the firm would comply with the law and authorities.
The Southern Taiwan Science Park Bureau said that it would assist TSMC in addressing the change of plans.
Construction of the second advanced packaging plant in Chiayi is being planned to ensure that construction schedules are not seriously affected, it said.
The review committee decided that all future development projects should be monitored, the Chiayi County Cultural and Tourism Bureau said.
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