Last week German PV toolmaker Centrotherm revealed it won an order to kit out a 10,000 metric tonne (MT) polysilicon foundry for IDEA in the Red Sea port town of Yanbu, with first production to commence in 2014.

IDEA could not have chosen a more challenging moment to enter the industry, but Abu Sharkh insists the timing is deliberate.

The spot price of polysilicon plunged from $80/kg in March 2011 to $30/kg in December, and is likely to continue falling throughout 2012 due to the oversupplied market.

Many