India Plans First Solar Silicon Cell Unit.

India plans to invest $480 million to set up its first unit for manufacturing solar silicon cells that will feed a project to build the world's largest solar power plant, Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel said.

'Today, not a single silicon chip for solar energy is manufactured in India,' Mr. Patel told reporters on the sidelines of a signing ceremony to formalize a joint venture company between six state-run companies to build a $4.5 billion-4,000 megawatts plant.

'Every solar panel which is made in India is assembled while all the material comes from China, Europe and some other countries,' Mr. Patel told reporters on the sidelines of a conference.

Mr. Patel said the ministry of heavy industries will seek financial support from the government for partly funding the first phase of the manufacturing unit that is proposed to be built by state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. one of India's largest engineering company by sales.

The Wallstreet Journal