Reiman setting up microchip production in Russia to rival Rusnano-Sitronics JV
MOSCOW. Nov 1 (Interfax) - Angstrem, a company controlled by former Russian communications minister Leonid Reiman that tried for several years to set up production of 130-nanometer microchips, plans to revive the project while simultaneously launching production of more modern 90-nanometer chips.
Angstrem has reached an agreement with IBM to license 90nm integrated circuit technology. In addition to the license, Angstrem will receive design rules from IBM required for contract manufacturers so that the company will be able to offer Smart Foundry services, the company said. The cost of the IBM license has not been disclosed.
Angstrem spokesman Alexei Dianov told Interfax that overall investment in the project will total an estimated EUR900 million. The project is to be financed with bank loans and shareholder funds.
The company will also use a credit line of EUR815 million that Vnesheconombank (VEB) extended to Angstrem-T back in 2008 to buy AMD equipment for the project to set up production of 130nm chips. That project was derailed by the global financial crisis, by which time EUR300 million of the credit line had been spent.
Angstrem-T and the state bank now have a new agreement, under which VEB has received guarantees from the Angstrem group, which is in the process of taking direct ownership of Angstrem-T, and the AMD equipment as security.
Dianov said Angstrem-T is building a factory in Zelenograd, where both the previously acquired AMD equipment for manufacturing 130nm chips and the line for production of 90nm chips will be installed.
Angstrem has not yet chosen the supplier of the equipment for 90nm chips. Dianov said the supplier would be selected based on the recommendation of IBM.
The factory will have capacity to manufacture 15,000 200-mm wafers per month. Germany's N+V Group is installing the clean rooms and building the infrastructure of the factory.
Construction of production infrastructure is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2013, equipment will be delivered in the fall of 2013 and production will start in the first half of 2014, Dianov said.
Angstrem has not specified the planned breakdown in production between 90nm and 130nm chips.
Dianov said the company expects to find a market for its products not only in Russia, but also abroad.
Russia already has one manufacturer of 90nm chips, a joint venture between Sitronics and state company Rusnano. Sitronics Nano, in which Rusnano and Sitronics each hold 49.75% stakes and Zelenograd's CJSC Ameks holds 0.5%, launched production in February 2012 under a license from France's ST Microelectronics, and signed its first commercial contracts in September. Sitronics Nano's 90nm chip line is currently operating at only 10-20% capacity, but the company expects it will reach a target level of 70-80% in a year.
The 90 nm chips can be used in plastic cards, radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, measuring equipment, and GLONASS receivers.