Wacker in €400m plan to triple polysilicon capacity

14 June 2007 08:51  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--German chemicals producer Wacker Chemie said on Thursday it plans to triple polysilicon production to 21,500 tonnes/year by 2010 at a cost of  €400m ($533m) at its plant in Burghausen to meet soaring global demand.

  

Growth in the market had been stimulated by the expansion of the solar power industry, which required hyperpure polycrystalline silicon for the production of solar cells, said the company.

 

“Today’s expansion decision reflects the continuously strong demand of our polysilicon customers,” said Peter-Alexander Wacker, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Wacker Chemie group.

 

The company forecast silicon demand to grow at an annual double-digit rate in the solar sector and almost 10% in the electronics sector over the next few years.

 

“We are already the world’s second largest polysilicon producer. By heavily increasing our capacities, we intend to keep narrowing the gap on the market leader. Also, we consider this project a major contribution to accelerate growth in the solar industry,” Wacker added.

 

The company’s polysilicon capacity currently stands at 6,500 tonnes/year. The expansion project is expected to create 200 jobs, the chemicals producer said.

 

($1 = €0.75)

 

By: Johnson Lim
+65 6780 4359

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