NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SunSi Energies, Inc. ("SunSi") (OTCQB:SSIE), a specialty chemical provider to the solar industry, announced today that it has substantially completed the construction of the first expansion phase of its Wendeng trichlorosilane (TCS) production facility, located in Weihai City, China. This expansion increases the size of the facility's total production by 10,000 metric tons (MT), or 50%, to 30,000 MT. SunSi's Wendeng facility is presently running at a production capacity equivalent to approximately 20,000 MT. The Company anticipates that after quality control processes and other procedures are completed, the new capacity will be fully operational in approximately 45 days.
This expansion was undertaken to meet the demand for high-quality TCS produced at Wendeng. The Company anticipates that the facility will be running at close to 100% capacity as soon as the added capacity is brought online.
The Wendeng facility, when originally constructed, was built as a scalable facility with infrastructure in place that could support capacity of up to 75,000 MT. SunSi has initiated the first steps in the second expansion to add another 40,000 MT of capacity to increase total capacity to 75,000 MT; and is seeking funding to support this expansion. Once operating with a capacity of 75,000 MT, SunSi's Wendeng complex will be the largest independent TCS-only production facility in China.
David Natan, SunSi Energies' Chief Executive Officer, said, "This is the first step in our expansion plan. Our engineering team and local management did excellent work to accomplish this expansion. What is particularly encouraging is that once the new capacity comes online, we have orders to fill that capacity."
Richard St-Julien, SunSi Energies' President and Chairman of Chinese Operations, stated, "Demand for our high-quality TCS remains very strong within China, and we have recently expanded our TCS business outside of China. Now with the first phase of our Wendeng expansion effectively completed, we will be able to continue to fulfill orders from our existing and expanding customer base within China, as well as increase our efforts to sell TCS outside of China."
About SunSi Energies, Inc.
SunSi Energies' goal is to become one of the world's largest producers of trichlorosilane (TCS). The Company's plans to achieve this objective by acquiring and developing a portfolio of high-quality, scalable, strategically located TCS production facilities that possess a potential for future growth and expansion. US-based SunSi controls approximately 55,000 metric tons of TCS production in China. TCS is a chemical primarily used in the production of polysilicon, which is an essential raw material in the production of solar cells for PV panels that convert sunlight to electricity. TCS is considered to be the first product in the solar PV value chain before polysilicon, and is also the principal source of ultrapure silicon in the semiconductor industry. For further information, please visit the company's website at www.sunsienergies.com/">http://www.sunsienergies.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements related to the future financial condition and results of SunSi's operations. Forward looking statements are based on SunSi's current expectations and estimates regarding: TCS markets and industry in which we operate being the most profitable segment of the solar energy value chain and management's beliefs and assumptions regarding these markets, qualifying for a listing on the American Stock Exchange, increasing the trading volume and price of SunSi's stock, future earnings and revenue projections, receiving additional TCS orders from companies outside of China, completion of our Wendeng expansion plan, the receipt of cash from subscription agreements for sales of our common stock, and other TCS related acquisition transactions.
These statements are subject to important risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict, and assumptions which may prove to be inaccurate. Some of the factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, market or business conditions; general stock market performance; the performance of the solar energy industry in general; changing competitive environment; changing regulatory conditions or requirements; changing technology; raising sufficient capital to fund the expansion of Wendeng to 75,000 MT; the price of TCS sold within China and outside of China; attaining projected revenue of $20-$25 million per year at Wendeng; the level of production by the Wendeng factory; timing of the final completion of the expansion of Wendeng to 30,000 MT, our joint venture Baokai's success in attaining new clients under its TCS distribution agreement; the decision by potential investors who have signed subscription agreements not to pay for such SunSi common shares; the decision by the American Stock Exchange to reject the Company's application for listing; the decision by companies located outside of China to purchase TCS and success in implementing productivity initiatives.
Some of these factors are largely beyond the control of SunSi. Should any factor impact SunSi in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements, therefore, there can be no assurance that the results or developments anticipated by SunSi will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences for SunSi. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Furthermore, SunSi disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or any other occurrence.