Sonangol targets to establish an industrial chain of solar PV manufacturing in Angola
For this, it has roped in Chinese silicon and semiconductor company Qinghai Lihao Clean Energy
The target is to produce 180,000 tons of metallurgical silicon and 150,000 tons of polysilicon annually
High-purity crystalline silicon and semiconductor materials company from China, Qinghai Lihao Clean Energy, plans to establish a polysilicon production plant in Africa’s Angola, in collaboration with state-owned oil company Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola (Sonangol).
The plant targets to produce 180,000 tons of metallurgical silicon and 150,000 tons of polysilicon annually, with an initial production capacity of 50,000 tons of these products.
According to a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) last week, they aim to explore setting up the entire solar PV industrial chain in Angola, starting from quartz ore, quartz sand and polysilicon that will be used to produce solar panels.
Sonangol said that the agreement paves the way for Angola to have a solar panel industry based on quartz mining, as well as the production of metallurgical silicon and polysilicon, for the production of solar panels, within a few years.
According to the Chinese company’s website, Qinghai Lihao was operating 150,000 tons of high-purity polysilicon production capacity at the end of 2023. It plans to build a production facility with an annual capacity of 200,000 tons of PV-grade high-purity polysilicon, and 2,000 tons of electronic-grade high-purity silicon for a RMB 20 billion investment.
Qinghai Lihao established Sichuan Lihao Semiconductor Materials in January 2023 as a wholly-owned subsidiary to invest in 200,000 tons of PV-grade polysilicon, 5,000 tons of high-purity electronic-grade silicon, and 250,000 tons of industrial silicon.
In keeping with the global trend of slow but gradual diversification of solar PV manufacturing, Africa is attracting investors. In recent times, EliTe Solar announced plans for an 8 GW solar PV manufacturing hub, including solar cell production, in Egypt (see EliTe Solar Unveils 8 GW Solar PV Manufacturing Plans For Egypt).
Japan’s TOYO Solar is also venturing into Ethiopia with a 2 GW solar cell production plant (see Japan’s Toyo Announces 2 GW Solar Cell Factory In Ethiopia).