"Government Faces Rs. 20,000 Crore Price Tag for SCL Fab Plant Modernisation"

The government's modernization plan for the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali will require an estimated investment of Rs. 20,000 crore to build a new fabrication (fab) plant with a capacity of 20,000 wafers per month. The significant investment is part of a broader effort to enhance India's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.

The new fab plant's capacity will pale in comparison to that of Tata's upcoming fab plant in Dholera, Gujarat, which is set to produce 50,000 wafers per month. However, the modernized SCL will mark a critical step in transitioning from reliance on high nodes of 180 nanometres (nm) to more advanced processes, starting with 28 nm and moving down to 14 nm.

This shift towards smaller nodes is expected to diversify SCL's applications and open new opportunities in the semiconductor market. The modernization plan also includes establishing a research and development (R&D) and prototype centre of excellence focused on 300-millimetre wafer processing on advanced technologies.

By transitioning to lower nanometre nodes and implementing state-of-the-art fabrication capabilities, SCL aims to become a pivotal facility for India's semiconductor industry. The government's commitment to invest Rs. 20,000 crore underscores its intent to foster innovation and create a competitive edge in the global semiconductor market.

BS