Automotive Semiconductor Companies NXP and Infineon Also 'Halt Operations'
On the 14th (local time), a snowplow was clearing roads covered with heavy snow in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The U.S. National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for 25 states from northern Maine to southern Texas, forecasting on the 15th that at least 150 million people would be affected by the cold wave. Photo by AP/ Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Due to a record-breaking cold wave causing power shortages centered in Texas, USA, semiconductor factories of local companies including Samsung Electronics have halted operations.
According to major foreign media such as CNN on the 17th (local time), Samsung Electronics' semiconductor factory in Austin, Texas, USA, has stopped operations since early morning Korean time due to a power outage. Not only Samsung Electronics but also other major local semiconductor companies and large corporations have experienced power supply interruptions.
A Samsung Electronics official explained, "We were notified in advance that the power supply would be cut off due to power shortages," adding, "We took preemptive measures to minimize damage and are currently waiting for power restoration."
The Samsung Electronics Austin factory mainly produces power semiconductor products for IT devices and communication semiconductors based on 14-nanometer (one-billionth of a meter) process technology. This is the first time the Austin factory has stopped operations since its establishment in 1998.
Samsung Electronics has reportedly not yet been informed of the time when power supply will resume.
According to foreign media, due to this blackout, global automotive semiconductor companies NXP and Infineon, located nearby along with Samsung Electronics, also halted factory operations.
CNN cited analysis data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on the 16th (local time), reporting that snow covered 73% of the total area of 48 states due to the record cold wave, and at least 15 people have died so far from the cold.
According to major foreign media, consecutive heavy snowfalls caused power outages affecting 5.5 million households across 18 states including Texas, Oregon, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia. Among them, Texas, where Samsung Electronics' semiconductor factory is located, suffered the greatest damage with 4.3 million households experiencing blackouts.
Meanwhile, due to power outages caused by the cold wave, companies with production facilities in the U.S. such as GM have also reportedly stopped operations due to power supply issues.
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