Die katastrophalen Auswirkungen des Hurrikans Helene könnten zur Pause der Halbleiterchipproduktion führen.
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, just outside the tranquil town of Spruce Pine with less than 2,200 residents, are two mines that produce the world's most pristine quartz. This quartz, which was formed around 380 million years ago, is a vital component in the global production chain for semiconductor chips, which power a multitude of devices such as smartphones, automobiles, medical equipment, and solar panels.
However, due to Hurrikan Helene's recent rampage through the southeastern United States, operations at these mines have come to a halt. The storm resulted in historic flooding and landslides, disrupted roads, power lines, and services, putting millions of residents at risk.
Sibelco and The Quartz Corp, the companies responsible for managing the mines, temporarily halted operations on September 26 to prepare for the impending storm. However, it is unclear to what extent the mines were damaged, and how long it will take to restore their functioning.
The facilities, together with the rest of the town, have been hit hard by infrastructure disruptions, including flooded areas, power outages, closed roads, and poor communication networks. Adding to the issue is the difficulty in contacting local employees, whose homes and residences have been affected by the calamity.
According to supply chain experts, the mines may take several weeks to become operational once again, which could lead to semiconductor shortages and price hikes. This could be particularly detrimental to the tech industry, as Silicon Valley giants are currently investing billions of dollars in chips to power their artificial intelligence systems.
If you were to pick one mine complex that significantly impacts the semiconductor manufacturing sector and the solar panel industry, it would most likely be the Spruce Pine mines operated by Sibelco and The Quartz Corp, according to Seaver Wang, co-director of the climate and energy program at The Breakthrough Institute.
Spencer Bost, executive director of Downtown Spruce Pine, stated on Tuesday that the damage in the town is catastrophic.
“At present, we are not aware of the extent of damage to the mining companies. However, we have witnessed such devastation in Spruce Pine that it is questionable when our employees will be able to resume work. Many people are injured, homes are damaged or destroyed, and some roads are no longer accessible,” Bost remarked.
Sibelco, a major Belgian employer in the county, confirmed the safety of its employees and is working diligently to contact those still unreachable due to ongoing power outages and communication challenges. They have also been collaborating with government agencies and rescue operations to mitigate the impact of the disaster and return to normal operations as soon as possible.
The Quartz Corp, Sibelco's neighboring mine owned jointly by a French and Norwegian mineral company, expressed its concern over the hurricane's aftermath and stated that it is uncertain when operations might resume. Their focus is on ensuring the safety of their employees and their families as they work to contact the unreachable staff.
Ein unentbehrliches Element für eine fortschrittliche Industrie
Quarz ist unentbehrlich im Halbleiter-Herstellungsprozess. Seine Reinheit spielt dabei auch eine wichtige Rolle, um die Chips nicht zu beschädigen.
“Sie stellen exquisit komplexe Chips her, die in einigen Fällen 100 Milliarden Transistoren, 100 Milliarden Miniaturmaschinen, auf einem Chip von der Größe Ihres Fingernagels enthalten. Die Anwesenheit eines einzelnen Atoms an der falschen Stelle kann zu einem Defekt führen, der den gesamten Chip ruiniert,” erklärte Gregory Allen, Direktor des Wadhwani Center for AI und Advanced Technologies am Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Während Quarz weltweit reichlich vorhanden ist, stellt der einzigartige hochreine Quarz, der in Spruce Pine abgebaut wird, etwa 80% bis 90% des globalen Marktes dar. Während einige Halbleiterhersteller möglicherweise genug hochreinen Quarz auf Lager haben, um die Produktion aufrechtzuerhalten, würde ein längerer Stillstand der Minen zu anhaltenden Halbleitermangel führen.
In einem solchen Fall wäre es möglich, normalen Quarz als Ersatz zu reinigen, aber die globale Kapazität zur Durchführung dieser Aufgabe in ausreichenden Mengen ist begrenzt.
“Ich würde eine Verzögerung und Störung in der Lieferkette für große Chip-Hersteller erwarten, während sie auf die Wiedereröffnung dieser Minen warten,” sagte David Bader, Professor und Direktor des Institute for Data Science am New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Neben der Wiederinbetriebnahme der Minen wäre auch die lokale Infrastruktur, wie Straßen, erforderlich, um den Quarz zu den Kunden zu transportieren. Ein umfangreicher Chip-Mangel würde wahrscheinlich dazu führen, dass zahlreiche Industrien zum Erliegen kommen. Beispielsweise wurden während der globalen Chip-Knappheit im Jahr 2021, die durch die Covid-19-Pandemie verursacht wurde, Automobilhersteller mit fast fertigen Fahrzeugen zurückgelassen, die jedoch nicht verschickt werden konnten, da die Chips fehlten, um wichtige Funktionen zu aktivieren, was zu einem starken Anstieg der Autopreise führte.
“The American economy, to a greater or lesser extent, is contingent on the semiconductor industry as a vital input,” said CSIS's Allen. According to Wang, despite the devastation in Spruce Pine, there remains reason for optimism.
"This mine holds significant national importance, and I'd bet that the feds are ready to raise hell and climb mountains to have it operational ASAP. It's no secret that this mining facility holds substantial value for our country." - statement from Wang.
