TAIPEI -(Dow Jones)- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) has earmarked US$1.89 billion to expand its wafer plant in central Taiwan, the company said in a statement Tuesday. TSMC, the world's largest contract chip manufacturer by revenue, said it plans to set up mini production lines for wafer fabrication in the central Taiwan plant, and to expand the plant's capacity in 12-inch wafer-level chip-scale packaging and other specialty technology. It didn't say when the expansion will take place. TSMC also said it has earmarked US$803.8 million for research and development next year and the company plans to inject EUR9.4 million into its solar business unit in Europe. The statement didn't elaborate. -By Aries Poon and Lorraine Luk, Dow Jones Newswires; 886-2-25022557; aries.poon@dowjones.com
