KAOHSIUNG (TVBS News) — Kaohsiung city officials have completed extensive groundwork for a potential sixth Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC, 台積電) facility, the director-general of Kaohsiung's Economic Development Bureau (經濟發展局) announced Thursday (April 24). The preparations include detailed infrastructure planning for water and electricity supplies in the southern port city's Nanzih (楠梓) and Ciaotou (橋頭) districts.
Economic Minister J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) had endorsed TSMC's expansion plans in Kaohsiung during a legislative session on Wednesday, citing adequate land availability in the region. The remarks came in response to City Councilor Lin Chih-hung (林智鴻), who sought clarification regarding the exact location for the semiconductor giant's proposed facility.
Liao Tai-hsiang (廖泰翔), who heads Kaohsiung's Economic Development Bureau, emphasized that the city would honor TSMC's ultimate site selection decision. He further noted ongoing coordination between the local Water Resource Bureau (水利局) and the national Water Resources Agency (水利署) to develop desalination facilities capable of supporting the semiconductor manufacturer's future expansion requirements.
During the session, Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) expressed concerns about Kaohsiung's capacity to accommodate beyond the five TSMC facilities already planned, specifically questioning whether sufficient space existed for a sixth plant. Minister Kuo offered reassurance that Kaohsiung could indeed secure and prepare adequate land for another facility, reaffirming his strong backing for the semiconductor manufacturer's continued expansion in southern Taiwan. ★
