TOKUYAMA TO INVEST US$3.68 BILLION IN MSIA

TOKYO, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- Japanese silicon maker Tokuyama Corporation will
invest RM12.5 billion (US$3.68 billion) over a period of time to produce solar
cell components at the Samalaju Industrial Park in Sarawak (an East Malaysia
state), said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin Tuesday.

"It's RM5.5 billion (US$1.61 billion) for the first 10-year investment with
an additional RM7 billion (US$2.06 billion) for another 10 to 15 years," he said
after meeting the company's top officials here.

Muhyiddin, who is on a specific investment mission to Japan from Dec 7-10
said the investments by Tokuyama, had been approved in 2008 and the
Sarawak government had identified a location for the project.

The plant, which will produce polycrystalline silicon for solar cells, is
expected to commence operations in 2011.

Muhyiddin said the project is expected to contribute RM19 billion (US$5.59
billion) to the gross domestic product (GDP) over the period.

Meanwhile, Tokuyama, has been supplying key polysilicon ingredients to wafer
makers including Sumco Corp, Renewable Energy Corp and MEMC Electronic
Materials.

-- BERNAMA