Construction has broken ground on a $1.35B Polysilicon production facility that will be based in the Middle East’s Oman. The project is hailed as the first project of its kind in the Middle East. The schedule of the project dates that operations need to start as early as next year. Once completed, the polysilicon production facility will produce 100,000 metric tons of metallurgical silicon per year. The construction of the facility is being led by United Solar Polysilicon (FCZ). It will be located at the Sohar Port and Freezone, a deep-sea port that is located midway between Dubai and Oman’s capital Muscat. Local press in the region reports that the project investment is expected to exceed $1.35B as construction progresses. Expected to be operational by the beginning of 2025, the plant will occupy an area of 160,000 square meters.
The Significance of the Polysilicon Production Facility in Oman
The polysilicon production facility is expected to be of great significance not only in Oman but also in the Middle East region. The production process of the plant will involve pouring liquid metallic silicon from a furnace into molds. It will also entail cooling, casting, grinding, and then finally packing the ore for global export. The Omani government is invested in the project having stated that it reflects the government’s keenness to encourage local investment and attract foreign investors. The polysilicon production project also reflects part of the objectives of the Oman Vision 2040. It entails achieving the projected units of economic and social planning in the country by that time.
The State of the Region on the Production Facility
Hailed as the first polysilicon production facility in the Middle East, the facility is expected to revolutionize a lot in the region. Oman’s Undersecretary for Commerce and Industry at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment promotion insights that the project holds a lot of promise for the Middle East region. This is in terms of a more sustainable future for ports such as the Sohar Port and Freezone. This is because it is expected to immensely facilitate in the increase of the handling capacity in the years to come. “This polysilicon project will enhance the status of the Sohar Port and Freezone as a global trade hub. Furthermore, it represents a significant achievement in the region’s economic growth and diversification, meeting the growing demand for metallurgical silicon in the markets of Asia, Europe, and North America,” he said.
The Contractors Involved in the Project
The polysilicon production facility announcement follows news of a prospectus business and relational partnership. Chinese solar material manufacturer Shuangliang Eco-Energy Co announced it received a $58.3 million equipment order from United Solar Polysilicon (FZC) SPC. The equipment order included the supply of polycrystalline silicon reduction furnaces, hydrogen production equipment, and refrigeration units for the plant. The construction of the project is expected to commence as anticipation of its fulfillment to boost Oman’s economy and the Middle Eastern region at large is still in prospect.
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