Core Viewpoint - A fire broke out at the San Yuan Energy Technology lithium battery factory in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, causing injuries and impacting the stock price of the parent company, Taiwan Cement Corporation (台泥集团) [1][8]. Group 1: Incident Details - The fire occurred early in the morning, with significant smoke and explosions reported. Emergency services deployed 46 rescue vehicles and 91 personnel to the scene [1]. - The incident resulted in 12 employees sustaining minor injuries and 3 firefighters suffering minor burns, all of whom were treated at medical facilities [1]. - The cause of the fire and the extent of property damage are still under investigation [6]. Group 2: Company Background and Impact - San Yuan Energy Technology's Kaohsiung lithium battery factory is Taiwan's first super battery factory, with an annual production capacity of 1.8 GW, sufficient to produce batteries for 24,000 electric vehicles [4]. - The factory is part of Taiwan Cement Corporation's strategic shift towards energy technology, having been established with an investment of nearly NT$20 billion in 2021 [8]. - Following the fire, Taiwan Cement's stock price fell significantly, dropping over 3% and reaching a new low since Q2 2009, although it later recovered somewhat [8]. Group 3: Production and Market Challenges - Despite stable output capabilities and certifications from major international clients, the company has not yet achieved profitability, producing approximately 7 to 8 million batteries monthly, with a potential capacity of 20 million [8]. - The company faces challenges due to a significant decline in battery prices and increased competition in the international market, making it difficult to maintain a competitive edge despite product quality and efficiency [8]. Group 4: Share Buyback Activity - Taiwan Cement Corporation has been actively repurchasing shares, having bought back 10 million shares between July 1 and August 1, and plans to repurchase an additional 28 million shares from August 4 to August 29, aiming to protect company credit and shareholder interests [9].