SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Intel Corp. here today insisted that its 300-mm fab project in Ireland remains on track for the second half of 2003 despite ongoing construction delays with the $2.2 billion plant.
According a report from the Irish Times, Intel may not restart construction on its twice-delayed Fab 24 project in Leixlip this year, as previously expected. Intel is also looking to reduce the cost of the fab by renegotiating building contracts with various companies, according to the Irish Times.
Intel halted construction on the fab last year, due to economic conditions. The ongoing construction delay of Fab 24 comes at a time when Intel is trimming its overall capital expenditures in 2002 (see Jan. 15 story ).
A spokesman for Intel told SBN today that the company has no idea when it will restart construction on the fab in Ireland. "It will depend upon business and economic conditions," the spokesman said.
But still, the spokesman insisted the Fab 24 project is still on track to be completed for pilot production by the second half of 2003. Targeted for volume production in the first half of 2004, the fab is supposed to be company's first high-volume plant for the production of chips, based on the 90-nm node (0.09-micron).
Intel's Fab 24 project has been delayed at least twice. Originally, Fab 24 was planned as a 200-mm wafer plant, but last year was changed to the larger wafer size production, while at the same time its opening was pushed back a year, to late 2002.Then, that opening slipped about 12 months to late 2003 (see March 14 story ).
