Taiwan's UMC to build US$1-mln solar cell plant in Shandong

Oct. 22, 2009 (China Knowledge) - UMC, a world-leading semiconductor foundry based in Taiwan, on Tuesday announced that it plans to invest US$1 million or NT$32.2 million to set up a solar cell plant in Shandong Province, sources reported.

Reportedly, NexPower Technology Corp, a photovoltaic module subsidiary of UMC, also intends to launch a solar cell factory in Shandong.

UMC is considering purchasing some or all of the equity in HeJian Technology (Suzhou) Co Ltd, which is located in Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu Province.

UMC is also involved in light-emitting diode field as well as the PV market. It launched a LED firm in August, has invested NT$1.5 billion in it so far. Another Taiwanese semiconductor giant, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, in March set up a LED firm and has injected NT$1.65 billion.

Last month, UMC reaped US$296 million in total revenue, 18.41% more than in the same month of last year. The firm predicted that its revenue for the third quarter will be NT$27.41 billion, whereas it realized NT$24.75 billion in the same quarter of last year.