Construction at Intel’s €30 billion ($32.4bn) chip fab in Magdeburg, Germany, has been delayed until 2025 due to issues with land suitability.

According to a Google-translated report from German news outlet Volksstimme, the site where Intel was planning to build the plant is covered in black soil.

Humus-rich and containing large percentages of phosphorus and ammonia compounds, black soil is particularly favored by agricultural farmers as it produces a high growth yield. It is also soft and loose in nature, making it an unsuitable foundation for a large chip fab.

To add to Intel’s woes, while black soil is normally found to a depth of 40cm, the black soil at the construction site has been found to a depth of 90cm to a meter. According to the report, the state of Saxony-Anhalt, where Magdeburg is located, has said construction at the site can’t begin until the soil has been removed so it can be repurposed, as is required by law.

In order to facilitate its removal, an access road to the site needs to be built and an existing road will be widened to four lanes to accommodate the removal trucks. The state-owned development company High Tech Park is planning to put the soil transportation out to tender in the second half of 2024.

The government has already identified land in the Börde and Salzland districts where the soil will be redistributed.

While Volksstimme reported that the state will foot the bill for the removal of the top 40cms of soil, it said Intel is responsible for removing and storing any quantities over that depth.

On May 29, a hearing was held in St. John's Church in Magdeburg related to the construction of the fab. According to local reports, 13 environmental objections were raised including one from a community north of the city complaining that Intel is cutting off their water supply.

Intel has been contacted by DCD for comment.