Taipei: The operations of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s (TSMC's) fab in Kumamoto, Japan, have fully returned to normal after an earthquake hit the area, TSMC said while also pledging to donate 250 million Japanese yen in disaster relief.
According to Focus Taiwan, the world's largest contract chipmaker stated that the restoration of the facility's operations was due to the joint efforts of TSMC's employees in Kumamoto and TSMC suppliers. The earthquake struck the Kumamoto area at 4:27 p.m. local time on July 28 and registered seismic intensities of up to 7, the highest reading on Japan's seismic intensity scale.
Soon after the earthquake hit, the fab, which is run by the TSMC-led joint venture Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Inc. (JASM), evacuated its employees based on its evacuation criteria, as reported by TSMC.
TSMC emphasized that Kumamoto is one of the company's important production bases worldwide, and extended its gratitude to the Japanese government, prefecture authorities, and its partners in the supply chain for their assistance.
Acknowledging the ongoing need for recovery in Kumamoto, TSMC announced a donation of 250 million yen to relief efforts. Additionally, the TSMC Charity Foundation has launched a campaign to raise funds from TSMC employees to provide further support.
TSMC's first fab in Kumamoto began commercial operations at the end of 2024, utilizing specialty processes. Construction of a second fab started last year, with mass production expected in 2028, employing the advanced 3-nanometer process. TSMC confirmed that the second fab did not suffer any setbacks in the earthquake.