WASHINGTON: The US is backing a Moroccan company that plans to produce a highly purified form of silicon used to make semiconductors and solar panels, as Washington seeks to line up alternatives to China for materials critical to modern technology.
Sondiale SA, which wants to produce polysilicon at a new US$870 million factory in southern Morocco, has secured US$4.75 million from the US International Development Finance Corp (DFC) for “pre-investment project development work” to support planning and preparation, according to the Washington-based lender.
“A US primary contractor will develop the facility to provide high-purity polysilicon to the US and allied nations,” a DFC official said in an emailed response to questions.