China plans to establish its first 3D NAND flash plant in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province in central China, by investing US$24 billion. The project was announced earlier this week by the Wuhan city government. It will be funded by four private-government funds, including China’s state-backed semiconductor fund "National Semiconductor Industry Investment Fund."

Chinese semiconductor firm XMC will be responsible for production. XMC has already produced a small quantity of flash memory chips and has joined hands with chip design firm Spansion to intensify its research on 3D NAND.

A ground-breaking ceremony for new plant will be held on March 28, and mass production of 3D NAND is expected to start in 2017.