The Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday denied a recent report that US-based artificial intelligence (AI) chip designer Nvidia Corp had requested a large amount of green power to undertake new investments in Taiwan.
The company’s investments in the country have progressed without any problems, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said it contacted Nvidia, and the company said it has no plans to purchase 10 terawatt-hours (TWh) of green power for any new investment project in Taiwan.
Photo: Huang Pei-chun, Taipei Times
Nvidia investment plans in Taiwan have been carried out as scheduled, including building its first research and development center in Asia and an AI supercomputer named “Taipei-1” — completed at the end of last year, the ministry said.
“Taipei-1” in Kaohsiung is expected to consume only green energy in the future and has obtained the amount of electricity it requires, the ministry said.
Solar power and offshore wind make up the bulk of green energy development in Taiwan, the ministry said.
The controversy stemmed from a legislative hearing on Tuesday last week, during which Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Chang Chi-kai (張啟楷) said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) had put forward specific terms for new investments in Taiwan and Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) said that “we can meet the terms.”
The next day, Kuo said that Huang had not directly made such a request and that “it is out of the question that the company will not return [to Taiwan].”
The ministry and Nvidia have also discussed workforce issues, Kuo said.
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