'US Cold Wave' Causes Power Shortage in Texas... Samsung Electronics Austin Plant Halts Operations

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Amid record-breaking cold waves and heavy snowfall causing the worst power shortage in Texas, USA, Samsung Electronics' semiconductor plant in Austin has halted operations. This is because the local power company, Austin Energy, informed corporate customers including Samsung, Dutch semiconductor company NXP, and German Infineon that it would suspend power supply due to the power shortage situation.

According to related industries and local foreign media on the 17th, Austin Energy announced on the 16th (local time) that it was experiencing difficulties in supplying power to large corporate customers and requested them to reduce or stop power usage. In response, the consortium negotiating on behalf of the companies, the "Coalition for Affordable, Reliable, and Clean Energy (CARE)," confirmed that "Austin Energy requested all industrial and semiconductor manufacturers to halt factory operations in response to the severe situation of the Texas power grid," and that all companies agreed to comply.

Accordingly, Samsung Electronics' Austin semiconductor plant has stopped operations. A Samsung Electronics official explained, "Austin Energy sought prior understanding and gave advance notice, took all necessary measures, and then implemented the power outage and halted operations," adding, "Measures were taken to ensure there is no impact on production, and there is no damage." In addition to Samsung Electronics, nearby semiconductor manufacturers such as NXP and Infineon also stopped operations.

Recently, the United States has been suffering damage due to an Arctic-origin cold snap. In Texas, power supply was cut off to 4.3 million households, causing the greatest damage, and power outages affected 5.5 million households across 18 states including Oregon, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia. As residents faced difficulties in daily life due to the blackout, the power providers deemed it appropriate to also halt factory operations of companies and communicated this to the businesses.

It is reported that this is the first time Samsung Electronics' Austin semiconductor plant has received a shutdown order due to power shortages.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.