Len, Pertamina to jointly produce solar cells

PT Len Industri (Persero) will team up with state owned oil and gas company Pertamina to build solar cells with a capacity of Rp 434.9 billion (US$46 million) in Karawang, West Java, Koran Tempo reported on Wednesday.

Len Industri?s president director Wahyuddin Bagendam said on Tuesday that the solar cell factory would be able to produce crystalline silicon with a capacity of 60 megawatt a year.

?The project is now underway and is expected to begin commercial operation in July 2013,? he said, adding that Len dan Pertamina would set up a joint venture company to run the solar cell factory. Len will have a 51 percent stake in the joint venture while Pertamina will own the remaining 49 percent.

?In September, the joint venture will begin the construction of the solar cell factory,? he said. (*)