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Taiwan Has Enough Water to Keep Chipmakers Humming Till May

  • Government expects rain in 2021 to be slightly less than usual
  • TSMC sees no impact on production so far, has contingency plan
A silicon wafer made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

A silicon wafer made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

Photographer: Maurice Tsai/Bloomberg

Taiwan offered reassurances Monday it has sufficient water reserves to keep a giant tech industry led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. humming till late May, when monsoon rains arrive to alleviate its worst drought in decades.

The island should have enough water to supply the public and industry till then though precipitation is likely to fall short of average historical levels, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua told reporters Monday. The drought has so far exerted no impact on TSMC nor other companies, Wang added.