Silicon producer, Simcoa Operation has been given the green light by the Western Australian government to expand its operations in the south-west region at Kemerton Industrial Park, near Bunbury.
WA Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said stage one of the $120 million project will involve the construction of a third furnace.
“Simcoa Operations is Australia’s only producer of silicon, manufacturing more than 32,000 tonnes a year of high-quality product - 85 per cent of which is exported. The first stage of this project will allow the company to increase capacity by 50 per cent,” he said.
“This will help Simcoa meet increasing demand for silicon, driven by the needs of the growing solar energy industry.”
The minister also said the second stage of the project will see the installation of a fourth furnace, doubling Simcoa’s current capacity by the end of 2013.
“The new furnaces will represent state-of-the-art silicon smelting technology and are designed to maintain Simcoa’s reputation as the world’s most energy efficient silicon producer,” Grylls said.
Add a comment