Gwangju semiconductor complex's water demand 'excessive,' report claims

A new report raises concerns about the substantial water demand proposed for the Gwangju semiconductor complex, suggesting it far exceeds the needs of existing facilities. The Climate Change Action Institute's analysis indicates that the planned daily water supply of 650,000 tons for the complex, which includes four factories for SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics plus suppliers, is disproportionately large.

According to the report, Samsung Electronics' domestic semiconductor and home appliance factories currently use a total of 406,000 tons daily, averaging less than 40,000 tons per plant. SK Hynix's six semiconductor plants use approximately 218,000 tons daily, averaging around 36,000 tons per plant. This means the Gwangju complex's proposed demand is 2.5 times higher for Samsung and 4 times higher for SK Hynix than their current usage.

The report further highlights a stark contrast with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), whose Arizona plant reportedly uses about 18,000 tons daily, and Taiwanese plants average 13,500 tons. The Gwangju complex's proposed usage is thus estimated to be five times higher for Samsung and over eight times higher for SK Hynix. This significant difference is attributed to TSMC's high water reuse rate, reaching 88-90%.

Experts are urging a shift away from relying solely on existing dams for the Gwangju complex's water supply, especially given climate change impacts. Government analysis indicates that during a 50-year drought, the Yeongsan and Seomjin River basins could face a daily water shortage of 340,000 tons. The report proposes improving the water quality of the Yeongsan River for domestic and industrial use and diverting water from the Seomjin River to the semiconductor complex. This strategy, termed 'water positive,' aims to encourage corporate investment in water quality improvement and diversify water sources.

“

This is a kind of water rights transaction and a 'water positive' strategy.