Xinte to expand capacity of its polysilicon plant by 36,000 tons

The massive expansion wave in the Chinese polysilicon industry continues: Xinte Energy, China’s second-largest polysilicon manufacturer, has announced that it will implement a new polysilicon project with an annual production capacity of 36,000 metric tons (MT) at its existing plant in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwestern China.

 Start of ramp-up is expected by the end of 2019.

 While Xinte says the company’s total production capacity will increase to 66,000 MT, the actual number will be at least 76,000 MT, given the effective capacity of the existing plant.

Thanks to the expansion, Xinte will be able to run its captive, coal-fired 700 MW power plant at full utilization and thus further reduce its already low electricity costs.

According to Xinte, the investment for the project will amount to RMB4,065 million (US$641 million). This would be equivalent to a specific capital expenditure (capex) of only $17.80/kg. Tore Torvund, CEO of REC Silicon, which just completed a 19,000 MT polysilicon plant in China, recently said such low capex figures would be unrealistic.