Kaohsiung expands Nanzih Science Park

高雄擴大楠梓科學園區

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Kaohsiung on Thursday approved rezoning of a former oil refinery to allow for growing TSMC operations, per a city government press release.

The city said it will be merging 29.83 hectares of land for the world's largest contract chipmaker. It projected that the expanded Nanzih Science Park will generate NT$960 billion (US$29 billion) and create 6,600 jobs.

Deputy Mayor Lin Chin‑rong (林欽榮) said the original 182.57-hectare park houses TSMC's phased 22 nm capacity boost. He added that TSMC's Plant 1 has begun production; Plant 2 will become operational later this year; Plant 3 will begin production in early 2027; and Plants 4 and 5 have been under construction since August, 2025 and are expected to become operational in late 2027.

TSMC's Plants 1 and 2 are part of the park's phase 1 expansion. Plants 3, 4, and 5 are expected to be incorporated into the 145.47-hectare phase 2 extension in July 2027, per UDN.

For transportation, Lin said the city and the central government are planning 30- to 40-meter-long roads and routes, while the Cabinet has greenlit NT$15.60 billion (US$470 million) to add ramps to National Freeway 1, connecting Cuihua Road and Provincial Highway 17 by 2028. He added that the future network will separate commercial vehicles from commuters, easing congestion.

On water supply, the city said it is working with the central government to build reclaimed water plants in Qiaotou and Nanzih. It added that Qiaotou is expected to supply up to 35,000 tonnes of water, with Nanzih to provide 20,000 tonnes daily, both supplying 100,500 tonnes a day by 2030. Semiconductor manufacturing requires huge amounts of water.

The city's Urban Development Bureau said the proposal will be sent to the Ministry of the Interior for review. It said the plan is part of the city's goal of transitioning from petrochemicals to more high-tech industries.