Polycrystalline Silicon Project Kicks Off
Yao Gang, Editor-in-Chief, SI China -- Semiconductor International, 4/23/2008 7:56:00 AM
Ledian Tianwei Silicon Technology Co. Ltd. recently kicked off its polycrystalline silicon project in the high-tech district of Leshan, China. First production is expected to emerge from the furnaces by the end of 2009, and full production capacity of 3000 tons is expected in 2012, officials said.
The company is a joint venture between Leshan Electric Power Co. Ltd. (Leshan, China) and Tianwei Baobian Electric Co. Ltd. (Baoding, China). The project covers an area of some 33 million m2, with a total investment of some 2.2 billion yuan ($314M). Leshan Electric Power holds a 51% stake, and Tianwei Baobian Electric holds 49%. The project’s construction period is expected to last 24 months. By July 2009, civil construction and equipment installation will have been completed and, in November 2009, the first products are expected.
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| Ledian Tianwei Silicon Technology Co. Ltd. is expected to reach full poly production of 3000 tons annually in 2012. |
Ledian Tianwei has signed an equipment procurement contract with a German polycrystalline silicon equipment supplier, including orders for feed gas compressors and auxiliary equipment. The contract is worth some $22M. The name of the German supplier was not made public.
Over the past four decades, Leshan has been the center for the R&D and production of semiconductor silicon materials in China. Currently, it has four key technologies: hydrogenated silicon oxide in an improved Siemens process, large reducing furnaces, conversion of thermal energy, and dry recovery of tail gas. Leshan is the cradle of polycrystalline silicon production in China and the seat of China’s first kiloton polycrystalline silicon plant. Among China’s three polycrystalline silicon manufacturers, two are located in Leshan.
The area currently has a production capacity of 1500 tons, taking up 80% of China’s completed production capacity. It is expected that the short supply of polycrystalline silicon in the global market will not significantly change by 2010.
The Leshan government identifies silicon materials and the solar industry as its top priority projects. Apart from Ledian Tianwei’s 3000-ton polycrystalline silicon project, the Leshan Ebei Semiconductor Material Plant will construct its 500-ton polycrystalline silicon capacity expansion project this year. The Dongfang Electric Group will start its 1500-ton project, and Yongxiang Co. will start its 1000-ton project in the area, giving Leshan annual production capacity of 19,500 tons of polycrystalline silicon.
