Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) is building a $1bn polysilicon plant at Ras Laffan in the Gulf state.

The plant will produce 8,000 tonnes a year of high-purity solar grade polysilicon when completed in the second half of 2013. The site has been allocated and is a 1.2-million-square-metre plot in Ras Laffan.  

“By utilising Qatar’s resources today to make polysilicon, which in turn creates a variety of solar energy technologies and products, we are helping the global transformation towards a more diversified mix of clean energy solutions,” Khalid K al-Hajri, chief executive officer of QSTec said in a statement.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract has been awarded to India’s Punj Lloyd.

QSTec is a joint venture comprising of the Qatar Foundation subsidiary Qatar Solar, the Germany’s SolarWorld and Qatar Development Bank.