Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) and Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon Technology Development Co. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited (GCL-Poly), have signed a letter of intent to establish a joint venture for the production of fumed silica and ultra-pure silicon tetrachloride in China. Evonik will hold a 60% share in the joint venture. The plants, which will have a capacity of over 20,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr), will be built in Xuzhou (Jiangsu Province, China) and are scheduled to start-up operation in 2016. The entire project has yet to be approved by the executive bodies.
GCL-Poly specializes in the generation of green and conventional energy. Jiangsu Zhongneng, a wholly owned subsidiary of GCL-Poly, is a global leading manufacturer of polycrystalline silicon (PCS). Silicon tetrachloride is a byproduct of PCS production, and the joint venture will purchase this to produce Aerosil fumed silica and Siridion STC HP ultra-pure silicon tetrachloride.