PCC is an internationally operating group of companies under the leadership of PCC SE (formerly PCC AG) based in Duisburg, Germany. The Group generates sales in the three divisions: Chemicals, Energy and Logistics. Today PCC employs more than 2,800 staff at 32 sites in 16 countries.
PCC is planning a modern production plant for silicon metal in Iceland. Production start is scheduled for 2016, with plans for an initial capacity of 33,000 metric tons per year. Silicon is the key material for a variety of applications in chemical, metallurgical, microelectronics and solar industries. Demand in Europe is currently at 550,000 t and about 2,200,000 t worldwide, with a growth rate of approx 6-8% p.a.
To qualify feedstock supply for the production of silicon PCC reverts on the expertise of ANZAPLAN in the evaluation of potential quartz(ite) deposits and the development of purification processes to ensure stringent raw material quality specifications. ANZAPLAN carried out an intensive sampling and processing program of the Polish quartzite deposit run by PCC Silicium SA. In several steps, a process flow sheet has been developed and an initial plant design was presented. Applicability in the production of metallurgical grade silicon was tested and supplemented by chemical analyses and technical tests.
The direct owner of the new plant is PCC’s Icelandic project company PCC BakkiSilicon hf founded in mid 2012. Its headquarters are located in the immediate vicinity of the planned production site in Húsavik to the north of Iceland. PCC BakkiSilicon has already concluded an electricity supply contract with the state-owned Icelandic electricity utility Landsvirkjun, providing for 15 years of cheap power for the highly energy-intensive silicon metal production process.
We are pleased to support the PCC Group in this project.