Cosmoc Chemicals Bhd (Cosmos) yesterday signed a technology license and major equipment supply contract with GT Advanced Technologies Inc (GTAT) for a new polysilicon facility being built in Samalaju Industrial Park under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) initiative.

This will be Sarawak’s second polysilicon plant after Tokuyama.

The complex is designed to product 25,000 tonnes worth about US$250,000 (about RM819,000) per year of high quality solar and electronics grade polysilicon and will be a world class, high volume polysilicon manufacturing facility bringing the latest polysilicon technology to Malaysia.

The complex will be owned and operated by Cosmos, an affiliate of Al Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia’s Project Management & Development Company (PMD).

It will include GTAT’s full range of polysilicon technology including trichlorosilane, CVD reactors and other product handling and processing systems.

Cosmos was granted an allocation of 250 acres of land at Samalaju by the state government and Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) will supply the electricity to the complex. In addition, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) has issued a manufacturing license and pioneer status to the complex.

“The polysilicon plant – one of the largest in Asia – is expected to be one of the largest polysilicon facilities in the world which would create 600 direct employment opportunities, together with thousands of jobs in the downstream solar power industry value chain and represents a significant benefit to Sarawak.

“The polysilicon project is in line with the Sarawak government’s SCORE initiative of promoting green and sustainable energy solutions, leading to further developments of the state’s industrial base,” said Majed Abdullah Al Ahmadi, chairman and managing director of Cosmos.

Cosmos chief financial officer Anand Iyer added, “We are delighted to be signing the technology license and equipment supply agreement with GTAT as it represents a major milestone towards the plant coming on line by the target date.”

“GTAT is excited to be supplying our latest full suite of polysilicon equipment and technology for the Cosmos polysilicon project,” said Dave Peck, vice president and general manager of GTAT’s polysilicon business units.

“GTAT has a successful track record of helping new market entrants establish world class polysilicon production operations.

“Our proven polysilicon technology gives customers the ability to quickly achieve nameplate production capacity for high-quality, low-cost polysilicon.”