Japan Press Weekly

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2023 July 19 - 25 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP hears residents’ concern about possible water depletion and pollution caused by Taiwanese semiconductor plant

Japanese Communist Party Lower House member Tamura Takaaki on July 21 visited Kumamoto’s Kikuyo Town to hear residents’ concerns over the possible depletion and pollution of groundwater as well as over road safety associated with the operation of a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) plant in the town which is scheduled to start in December 2024.

Along with Tamura, JCP Kikuyo Town Assemblymember Kobayashi Kumiko, JCP Kumamoto City Assemblymembers Ueno Mieko and Iseri Eiji, and JCP Kumamoto Prefectural Committee head Matsuoka Masaru took part in this action.

In the hearing held by the JCP, a resident pointed out that even now, the traffic is heavy on roads in the vicinity of the plant, and said that it is highly likely that an increase in traffic volume due to the start of plant operations will pose a threat to the safety of road users such as children and will bring about negative impacts on residents’ living environment.

A farmer who uses groundwater to grow crops voiced concern about the possible depletion and contamination of groundwater. He said that the Taiwanese maker should take measures to prevent pollution and recharge the groundwater resources as its factory will reportedly use 12,000 cubic meters of groundwater per day, almost equal to the daily amount pumped for all the 43,000 townspeople for tap water use.

JCP Tamura noted that the central government spent 467 billion yen in subsidies to entice the TSMC factory to be located in Kumamoto. He expressed his determination to urge Tokyo to instruct TSMC to incorporate proper measures to dispel local residents’ anxieties.