Wed, Jul 26, 2000 page17

• Tainan industrial tenants to receive extra transformer

  • By Richard Dobson / STAFF REPORTER
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  The Taiwan Power Company (Taipower, 台電 ) has backed down on a proposal that chipmakers in the Tainan Science-based Indu-strial Park (台南科學園區) agree to unannounced power cuts in times of disrupted supply and will instead install an additional transformer at the park's substation to boost supply.

  Taipower spokesman Clint Chou (周義岳) told the Taipei Times yesterday that the state-run utility would drop its request that companies in the park agree to the installation of switching devices in their newer foundries that would reduce electricity in times of unstable supply.

  "Instead, we will install an additional high-voltage transformer at the Lungchi transmission substation that supplies the park with power," said Chou. The new unit will bring the number of transformers at Lungchi to five, increasing the power reserve margin and providing a more stable and secure supply of electricity to the park and surrounding area, said Chou.

  Major chip makers Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC 台積電) and the Chi Mei Group (奇美集團) had refused to sign the proposed affidavit and criticized the state-run utilities inability to provide a stable supply of power to one of the nation's most valuable industries.

  The decision to scrap affidavit plan the came after

  Wong Cheng-yi (翁政義), head of the Cabinet-level National Science Council -- which oversees administration of the park -described the plan as "unreasonable" during his first visit to the park Monday since assuming the position.

  Wong reportedly also voiced his concern to economics chief Lin Hsin-yi (林信義) via a telephone call made from the park and sought to resolve the issue face-to-face with Taipower general manager, Hsi Shih-chi (席時濟). Reports said that Hsi had promised Taipower would supply sufficient electricity to the park next year after discussing the issue with an insistent Wong.

  Chou confirmed that Hsi had withdrawn the proposal and said that Taipower would endeavor to install the new transformer by next June before the onset of the peak summer period.

  And while the addition of the fifth transformer would virtually guarantee a stable supply of power to the park, Chou said that Taipower's current facilities at Lungchi would have been be able to satisfy electricity needs at the park, as long as the equipment functioned properly.

  "With four transformers working properly there would be enough power," said Chou. "But with the extra transformer there will be a greater margin (of reserve power) and supply should be more stable," he said.
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