Fire at REC Silicon plant will impact third quarter production

Polysilicon producer REC Silicon ASA said that granular polysilicon production, produced by its FBR (Fluidised Bed Reactor) technology, will be impacted by Friday’s fire at the Silane 4 gas production facility in Moses Lake.

REC Silicon ASA anticipates the restart of the Silane 4 will happen in mid-July and that production rates may be limited to around two-thirds capacity through the third quarter of 2016. Third quarter granular polysilicon production is currently estimated at 3,800 metric tons, which is about 800 metric tons below the third quarter volume previously guided.

“At this time there is no anticipated change to the previously guided fourth quarter granular polysilicon production volume,” according to a press release.

The fire in Silane 4 resulted in damage to the gas-fired oil heater involved in the incident. On July 1, during the startup of Silane 4 an oil fire occurred in one of three gas-fired oil heaters.

REC Silicon emergency response personnel were activated at 7:30 a.m. and extinguished the fire, and an all clear was given at 10:03 a.m.. There were no injuries or releases of process chemicals caused by this incident, the company emphasized.

Silane 3 started up in May and is operating at near full capacity. The FBR facility was not impacted, however, FBR capacity will be impacted by silane gas limitations caused by this incident.