KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 24): Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) and Samsung’s respective foundries have both been hit by weather phenomena that could be ascribed to climate change.

Technology portal eeNews Europe yesterday said TSMC has the majority of its manufacturing in Taiwan but is facing water usage issues at its major manufacturing sites.

This is due to a drought affecting the whole of the populated eastern side of the island, said the portal.

Meanwhile, Samsung's S2 Fab in Austin, Texas, was forced to cease operations because of rolling electricity supply blackouts due to snow and extreme cold.

Although the weather has improved in the region, Business Korea has reported that Samsung is now suffering from a water shortage due to the freezing of local rivers and water supply networks.

Wafer fabs use very large amounts of water in most of the IC manufacturing steps particularly because surfaces have to be clean to the nanoscopic level between each process.

eeNews Europe reported that in the last few days, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs has said the water shortage in Taiwan has worsened, necessitating further restrictions, according to Taipei Times.

It added that the minister Wang Mei-hua told a news conference in Taipei that although 40mm of rain fell over the Chinese New Year holiday, it was not enough to affect the country's dwindling reserves of water.

The report added that Taiwan's Water Resources Agency has said industrial water use in Hsinchu, Miaoli and Taichung must be cut by 11% and industrial water users in Tainan and Chiayi are to cut use by 7%. Companies that do not adhere to the demands will have their water cut off.

The dry season does not end until May and weather forecasters have predicted February and March will be drier than usual, the report said.