The Saudi Arabian owners of a new polysilicon production facility set to open in Sarawak, Malaysia, have struck a deal to purchase $336 million worth of equipment and technology from U.S.-based technology company GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT).

Saudi-based Project Management & Development Company (PMD) are backing the 25,000 metric ton annual (MTA) polysilicon factory, owned by Cosmos Chemicals Berhad, and have enlisted the expertise of GTAT to supply its complete suite of polysilicon production equipment and engineering services.

GTAT has revealed that the deal – which is still subject to financing – includes the provision of the company's SDR CVD reactors, filament production, hydrochlorination equipment and polysilcion processing technology. Once final financing is secured, GTAT will commence the commissioning of the engineering work next month, followed by the first phase of shipments.

"GTAT is excited to offer our latest full suite of polysilicon equipment and technology to the Cosmos Chemicals Berhad polysilicon project," said GTAT’s executive VP of solar, Dave Keck. "The polysilicon market is improving with spot prices on the rise and supply and demand coming into balance.

"This is a good time to begin construction of a new plant so that it comes online timed to rising prices. GT has a successful track record of helping new market entrants establish world-class polysilicon production operations."

GTAT also revealed that the Malaysian plant will be supplied with the company’s high volume hydrochlorination solution, which is able to produce enough TCS to support more than 10,000 MTA of polysilicon production from a single hydrochlorination fluid bed reactor.

A report late last year from Frost & Sullivan revealed that Asia's PV materials market is poised for a rapid uptick in production as various governments across Southeast Asia look to turn the region into a diverse and affordable hub for solar PV production.