Nitol Solar

completed

Nitol Solar Limited (Nitol or the company) is a vertically integrated chemical and silicon gas producer based in Russia’s Irkutsk region (south-eastern Siberia), with access to abundant rock salt and low cost energy. It has two divisions the Usoliekhimprom chemicals division and the Usoliye-Sibirskiy Silicon solar division. Both divisions operate at the same site located in Usolie_x001F_-Sibirskoye approximately 70 km from the city of Irkutsk, Russia. Associated operations to the chemical division include:- salt extraction, located approximately 2 km south-east from the site; - sludge lagoons located at approximately 1.5 km north-east from the site, - wastewater neutralization station at approximately 1.5 km east of the site and - an industrial landfill located at approximately 3 km northeast from the site. The solar division includes the production of trichorosilane (TCS) which is the key ingredient in the production of polycrystalline silicon ("PCS" or "polysilicone".)In 2006 Nitol embarked on a program to capitalize on the global trend towards renewable energy. Strong demand growth has resulted in a world-wide shortage of PCS the key raw material used in the production of photovoltaic (solar) panels. The proposed project with the IFC aims to support the construction of a 3,700 metric tonnes per annum PCS manufacturing facility. This project will significantly improve overall safety as well as replace existing equipment.