The ASX response indicates the etch process failure could be...

The ASX response indicates the etch process failure could be fixed "immediately", if it wasn't for the fab to whom EM is customer, prioritizing another customer, The whole annoying delay for us boils down to a business decision by a party twice removed from AKP, because of an unanticipated increase in demand from another important customer. If anyone's angry here, take it out on them. We are all restless from the endless delays but this one is just business in the real world. Not the first time and not the last time, for AKP included. Sure if there was no etch process issue, yes we might have got a few chips, which would have been positive for the SP, but certainly not sufficient amounts to engage AKP customers, because the business delay would apply no matter what - until capacity at the fab is increased.

It is important to understand this delay in production is NOT a mysterious technical delay that needs solving, or as some speculate "can they make it work at all, ever?". The sole technical issue found (for 6" wafers) is classed as an easy and "immediate" fix as soon as production resumes. I do believe that to be the case. The fab wouldn't be trying to resolve their production bottleneck via acquiring additional equipment if there was some other issue. The fab anticipate bringing the new equipment online in mid to late February. Of course it will take longer as it always does, but the fab are actively working on resolving the business decision problem. This is as good as it gets folks. We are certainly in late February now, so it could be close to resuming but we haven't been told yet that it has resumed. They also anticipate that once they are able to resume fabrication it is estimated that 5-6 weeks will be needed to bring the lead backup batch to completion. Completion not starting. Put in some padding and it is probably 3 months out for completed production of 6" wafers.