Ledian Tianwei completes trial operation at polysilicon plant
Shanghai. September 24. INTERFAX-CHINA - Leshan Ledian Tianwei Silicon Science and Technology Co. Ltd., a polysilicon producer in western China's Sichuan Province, has successfully completed a trial run of its new 3,000-ton polysilicon plant, but will wait until next year to put the plant into operation, a company employee told Interfax on Sept. 24.
The company will hold off on starting official operation due to the current oversupply in the polysilicon market and downbeat prices, a company employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said. Ledian Tianwei invested RMB 2.2 billion ($322.11 million) in the plant.
In late August, China's State Council warned of excess production capacity in China's polysilicon sector. China's annual polysilicon production capacity has grown from 150 tons in 2003 to about 70,000 tons in the first half of 2009. Prices are lingering between $50 and $70 per kilogram, far lower than their peak level of almost $500 per kilogram in the first half of 2008.
Founded in January 2008, Ledian Tianwei is jointly owned by Baoding Tianwei Baobian Electric Co. Ltd. and Leshan Electric Power Co. Ltd., which hold stakes of 49 percent and 51 percent, respectively.
-WV