Astana, Kazakhstan, Dec.21
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
The Kazakhstan Solar Silicon LLP plant (subsidiary of Kazatomprom JSC), has launched production of photovoltaic cells, the converters of solar energy into electricity in the Kazakh city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazatomprom JSC said on Dec.20.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev gave the go-ahead for commissioning work at the national teleconference during the celebration of the Day of Industrialisation, Kazatomprom JSC said.
The Kazakhstan Solar Silicon plant is the most high-tech part of the innovative project for the development of solar energy in Kazakhstan. KazPV was launched in the country in 2010 in accordance with the president's order.
Within the KazPV project, the industrial production of Kazakh quartz is being carried out in Ushtobe. A solar module assembly plant has been operating in Astana since December 2012.
The new plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk will produce ingots of solar silicon and their over splitting into blocks and plates will be carried out. Eventually photovoltaic cells which are the core component of the solar module will be produced.
The enterprise's capacity is not less than 60 megawatts, or 16.5 million photovoltaic cells per year.
"This is comparable to the construction of a thermal power station each year," Director General of Kazakhstan Solar Silicon LLP, Vasiliy Li said.
Some 440 new jobs will be created in Kazakhstan as a result of commissioning of the plant.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by S.M.