Taiwan's semiconductor giant closes poisonous plant

Taiwan's Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (ASE) was ordered on Friday to shut down a plant in Kaohsiung for discharging toxic waste into a river, according to city authorities.

The K7 plant of ASE ordered to close, mainly manufactures flip chips and wafer bumping. It was found illegally discharging waste water containing nickel and other toxic substances into the Houjin River.

The K7 plant accounts for almost 10 percent of revenue of the ASE group.