CEL, Russian co plan silicon wafer making venture

NEW DELHI: State-owned Central Electronics (CEL) will set up a joint venture with Russian firm Podolsk Chemicals to set up a silicon wafer manufacturing plant in Europe with an investment of around Rs 1,200 crore.

CEL manufactures photovoltaic cells that converts solar energy into electricity. Silicon wafers are used in solar cells. ���The cost of silicon wafers is high as we have to import it in India. Setting up our own facility will significantly bring down costs for us,��� CEL CMD director SK Kaicker said.

The two partners will set up a 50:50 JV that will manufacture silicon wafers which will mainly for captive consumption, he said.

���In case of additional production, we will also supply wafers to other companies,��� Mr Kaicker said. The proposed JV will have an initial 250 mw capacity that could be expanded in future, he said.

Mr Kaicker said the plant is expected to be located somewhere in Europe so that the JV can have technological advantage.

CEL has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Russian firm for the proposed JV.
CEL, a public sector company functioning under the department of scientific and industrial research (DSIR) in the ministry of science and technology, has developed several solar photovoltaic systems, such as home lighting systems, water pumping systems and solar refrigeration systems for vaccines.

The global photovoltaic market was estimated at $12.9 billion in 2007 and expected to touch $32.2 billion by 2012.