Sinova Global, the North American silicon metal production company with operations in Canada and the USA (“Sinova” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce that it has today broken ground on the construction of its new Silicon metal plant in Tiptonville, Lake County, Tennessee.
The event celebrates the award of all necessary permits for construction and a multiyear agreement with federally owned electric utility corporation The Tennessee Valley Authority (“TVA”) to provide responsibly sourced power. The company also today announces the appointment of Tenova Inc. (“Tenova”) and CV Engineering Inc. (“CV Engineering”) to build the plant.
The event was attended by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee; Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner, Stuart McWhorter; TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development, John Bradley; Francesco Memoli, President and CEO of Tenova Inc.; Kalyan Sennerikuppam, President of CV Engineering; Local community members and Jayson Tymko, Chief Executive Officer of Sinova Global.
Sinova Global Chief Executive Officer, Jayson Tymko, said:
“It is clear that real momentum is building to deliver on the promise of a sustainable energy future. For Sinova that means a shared benefit, in all that we do, with a global community and our special, local community who are central to our mission.
“We are pleased to have received all the permits required to commence construction and to partner with TVA who, along with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, are helping to build a world class operation.
“To have reached this exciting point in our development is the result of considerable effort by many people for which, on behalf of Sinova, I thank everyone. There is more work to be done before we meet here in the future when our operation commences - but I speak for all of us when I say it feels great to be building.”
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, said:
“Tennessee is leading the nation with a strong business climate and highly skilled workforce, and our rural communities are no exception. I thank Sinova Global for its commitment to invest $150 million in Lake County and create 140 new jobs for Tennesseans.”
Dept. of Economic and Community Development Commissioner, Stuart McWhorter, said:
“We are proud to join Sinova officials as the company breaks ground on its first manufacturing operations in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Sinova’s significant investment and commitment to creating 140 new jobs in Lake County, our state’s most economically distressed region, will be monumental for this community, and we look forward to seeing the success that follows this project in the years to come.”
Tennessee Valley Authority Senior Vice President of Economic Development, John Bradley, said:
“TVA is pleased to partner with Sinova Global to provide reliable, low-cost, low-carbon energy to its new plant in Tennessee, bringing quality job opportunities and investment to Lake County. We, along with our federal, state and local partners are proud to support companies like Sinova Global, celebrate this groundbreaking together.”
Lake County Mayor, Danny Cook, said:
“This is a great day for the citizens of Lake County. We are so pleased that Sinova Global has chosen to locate their new facility here. We know that this industry will provide much needed employment opportunities for our community, and we believe it will be the catalyst for even more economic growth for the surrounding area as well. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with Sinova as we look to the future.”
Francesco Memoli, President and CEO of Tenova Inc., said
“The Tenova Group is particularly proud to be the process technology partner of Sinova. Together we are building the most modern and efficient silicon metal plant in North America, contributing to the reshoring of an essential part of the supply chain for the semiconductor and solar industries to secure clean energy leadership in these challenging times for the planet.”
Kalyan Sennerikuppam, President of CV Engineering, said:
“CV Engineering is excited for this important project in the state of Tennessee. This plant will be utilizing state of the art technology to produce the highest grade silicon metal. We are proud to be part of this project that is poised to support the transition to green energy.”
Sinova Silicon – A Landmark Project for North America
The Company is constructing a modern silicon metal manufacturing facility (known as Sinova Silicon) on a 148 acre site near Tiptonville, Tennessee in the Lake County Industrial Park which will be transformational for the region. It will create up to 140 new jobs and provide refined material serving the rapidly developing renewable energy, energy storage and automotive industries in the area.
Construction of phase one is expected to be complete in 2024 with full production reached during the first half of the year. The construction phase is expected to generate approximately 250 to 400 jobs.
Located immediately south of the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, Cates Landing also benefits from lock-free shipping routes to the deep-water ports on and along the Gulf of Mexico, such as New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama. The location provides access to high-voltage power with excellent highway and rail connections.
More than half of North America's current demand for silicon metal is met from imports due to a lack of new silicon metal plant manufacturing development over many years. Sinova Silicon will help meet the growing demand for products which are the building blocks for the sustainable energy transformation. These products include: solar cells (for photo voltaic solar panels); semi -conductor components; aluminum used in lightweight aerospace and automotive parts; and next generation batteries and battery anodes.
Sinova’s operations in Golden, BC, Canada
The raw material for producing silicon metal will come from Sinova Quartz, an existing quarry owned and being developed by the Company, from where naturally occurring high-purity quartz (Silica) is transported to Tennessee. The quarry is fully permitted for over one million tonnes of production of high quality and ultra-high-purity quartz that can be used in high value silicon metal production. The logistics may include road, rail and barge transport to the Port of Cates Landing, adjacent to the Sinova Silicon plant in Tiptonville, Tennessee.
Material from Sinova Quartz requires very limited processing, creates minimal by-products and requires less energy to process relative to the material from other quartz sources. This is the result of exceptionally high levels of silica purity (and correspondingly low levels of boron, iron, phosphorous and aluminum impurities), which makes the material of particular value for industrial customers serving the high technology market segments which are fundamental to a successful clean energy transition.
TVA Agreement
TVA will be adding additional power infrastructure with the support of state and federal agents to facilitate a reliable supply of electricity for the silicon metal plant. TVA currently delivers electricity which is nearly 60% carbon free, making it the most renewable energy available in the Southeastern US.