Baotou will cooperate with Jiangsu Huantai Group on a 3GW single crystal pull rod project, according to Baotou Daily reports of an agreement signed between the two parties on June 11.

Mayor of Baotou, Zhao Jiangtao, joined Wang Huiming of the Standing Committee of Baotou Municipal Party Committee and Wang Lubao, president of Jiangsu Huantai Group, in attending the ceremony.

The 3GW single crystal pulling rod project at Baotou Metal Deep Processing Park covers 12.4 hectares and has an estimated total investment of 1.5 billion yuan ($235 million).

The project is divided into two phases. The first is expected to be completed and put into production by the end of March 2019 while the second phase is aiming for a June 2020 commencement of production.

The completed project will be capable of producing 17,000 tons of monocrystalline silicon round rods annually for an output value of 2.45 billion yuan annual.

Established in 1988, Jiangsu Huantai Group is a national-level key high-tech company based in the province. After more than 20 years’ development, the company now deals in two major industries, photovoltaic and photoelectricity and five core subsidiaries. Its total assets have reached 4.2 billion yuan.