Evonik to Build Monosilane JV Plant in Japan    

Evonik Industries AG is planning a substantial investment in the future-oriented markets for solar energy and electronics, despite the economic crisis. Together with Japanese partner Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (TNSC), the Group is working on a project involving investment of around Euro 125 millions. The heart of the project is a new integrated production facility for monosilane and AEROSIL (R ) in Yokkaichi, Japan, around 400 kilometers south of Tokyo. An agreement on this facility was signed on May 14th and is the first step in the positioning of Evonik's solar silicon activities on the attractive Asian market.  
   Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in late 2009 and start-up is scheduled for 2011. Evonik has a long-term agreement to supply monosilane to TNSC, one of the world's leading distributors of industrial and special gases. TNCN has been serving major customers in the electronics industry for many years.  
   Evonik already produces polycrystalline solar silicon for highly efficient wafer-based solar cells at a joint venture in Rheinfelden, Germany.