TSMC’s new Arizona fab delayed but employees settling in

TSMC’s new Arizona fab delayed but employees settling in

2023-06-28

TSMC’s new silicon fab in the U.S. state of Arizona is delayed by multiple challenges, according to international media. The construction work is behind the original schedule, and water shortages in the desert are a concern. FTV reporters visited the city of Phoenix, where TSMC employees are already starting to settle in. Let’s take a look at the construction site, and see how the families of TSMC workers plan to settle into their new lives in the U.S.

Cranes tower over the site of the fab, behind metal fences. Global media is watching and waiting to see when phase one on construction of TSMC’s new Arizona fab will be completed.

Yang Ying-chao
Foreign capital analyst
The fab was originally intended for 5 nm chips. Now it’s changed to 4 nm, and some equipment may need to be replaced or adjusted. Now, TSMC itself has said that it will be delayed by about one year. So it’s quite clear and we can see that there’s basically no movement at the back of the fab. We’re actually in a desert here so drought is a big issue. The wafer foundries of TSMC or Intel can recycle water, so that will help to some extent. But I think the scariest thing about the lack of water is the price of water or electricity going up.

TSMC is challenged by water shortages in Arizona as well as by issues with the progress of construction. Meanwhile, TSMC employees are starting their new lives in Phoenix. And one of the new Arizona residents has started a “TSMC Mom’s Lunchbox” company, to give TSMC employees in Arizona the taste of Taiwan.

Kate
Family moved to US for work
In Taiwan, you can buy Taiwanese bubble tea or Taiwanese chicken everywhere. But they’re very uncommon here, almost non-existent, and especially because TSMC is towards the north, where there’s even less Taiwanese or Chinese food, we thought we could open a store, to make chicken lunchboxes and braised pork rice lunchboxes.

Jennifer
Head nurse, medical center
We have one of the most diverse backgrounds, and a representation of those, that live in our community. So we have for years had not only translation services by actual physical telephones, where I could hand one to you, and I could have one, and we ask for the correct language interpreter, and we can talk, real time, with privacy.

TSMC employees and their families who settle in Arizona will need medical services. Some will fear they can’t manage the medical system in English. Large local hospitals are offering interpretation services, and specialized OB-GYN services for childbirth. These holistic services aim to welcome Taiwanese immigrants and help them put down roots locally.

台積電美國建廠進度民視團隊鳳凰城直擊

2023-06-28

晶圓代工龍頭台積電擴大全球佈局，其中在美國設廠挑戰不小，尤其當地的沙漠氣候，長期乾旱缺水，還有蓋廠進度等，都是全球熱搜話題。民視採訪團隊這回特別到鳳凰城，用鏡頭記錄最新的建廠進度，一起來看看。

高聳的塔式吊臂、興建中的廠房，外面還圍起鐵網。外界都在關注，台積電在美國亞利桑那州廠第一期的廠房何時完工。

[[資深外資分析師楊應超]]
“本來這個廠是要蓋5奈米的，現在改成4奈米之後，就有可能一些器材需要更換，或有一些調整，那台積電它自己也有講說，它會落後個1年左右，所以是蠻明顯的，而且我們看現在後面的廠，基本上是沒有動的。其實我們這裡是沙漠，所以缺水絕對是很大的議題，當然台積電或intel晶圓廠，它們水是可以回收的，所以這個多少會有一點幫助啦，不過我覺得缺水，最怕的是說，它可能水的價錢提升或電力價提升。”

從亞利桑那州恐面臨缺水挑戰、到建廠進度，台積電美國廠能不能如期完工備受關注。另外台灣外派的員工在鳳凰城展開新生活，現在有員工眷屬推出「台積媽媽便當」，要讓員工在異鄉也能吃得到台灣味。

[[台灣赴美眷屬 Kate]]
“台灣的珍珠奶茶或是雞排，就是台灣隨便都可以買得到，但因為這邊就很少，幾乎都沒有，而且尤其是台積電也比較北邊，就是華人的食物就更少，所以我們就想說那可以開一家店，像有做雞排便當或是焢肉便當。”

[[醫療中心護理長Jennifer]]
“我們擁有最多元化的背景，在我們的社區，我們不僅藉由電話，提供雙邊通話的翻譯服務，找正確的語言翻譯，我們可以即時交談並保有隱私。”

因不少台積員工及眷屬有就醫需求，就怕語言不通，當地的大型醫院也有提供中文翻譯、台積寶寶接生等，醫院提供完整服務，要來歡迎台灣人到亞利桑那州落地生根。

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Tsai Ing-wen
President
All the members of the delegation pay close attention to developments in the international situation and the challenges facing liberal democracies. Serving on the Armed Services Committee, you have continued to protect the national security of the United States and its democratic allies through hearings, bills, resolutions, and other active steps. Here, I would like to thank the U.S. Congress for the longstanding and bipartisan attention it has shown to Taiwan’s security and for expressing support for Taiwan through concrete actions. Taiwan is on the front line of defense of democratic values. We will continue to work hand in hand with the U.S. in such areas as the economy and national defense to jointly safeguard the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. I look forward to an in-depth discussion with you today on ways to develop even closer cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S.

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The United States and Taiwan have had a long and important friendship. Our shared commitment to the rule of law, democracy, and a free and open Indo-Pacific has only deepened that friendship. As you can see from the delegation with me today, our support for Taiwan is bipartisan and unwavering.

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Presidential contender Ko Wen-je has been in a war of words with the green camp, over whether to restart the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement. On Wednesday, KMT lawmakers joined the fray, declaring their support for the agreement.

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