Bosch to construct solar PV plant in Malaysia

Bosch Solar Energy AG will construct a new plant in Penang, Malaysia, to produce monocrystalline solar cells at a reported cost of US$718.3 million.  The new plant will create 2,000 new jobs. Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, International Trade and Industry minister, said the new plant reflected Bosch’s confidence in Malaysia’s ability to “offer a pool of highly skilled and qualified workers capable of undertaking high value manufacturing in the electrical and electronics industry.”  The new photovoltaic plant is in line with Malaysia’s interest in industries related to new and renewable energy.  Malaysia is currently ranked fifth in the world in terms of solar megawatt output “and we expect it will not be too long before we will be positioned 3rd in this ranking,” Mohamed said. (June 23, 2011)