18. First Solar opens RM2bil plant in Kulim Hi-Tech Park

KULIM: Kulim Hi-Tech Park is a step closer to becoming a manufacturing hub for solar panels with the official opening of US-based First Solar Inc's inaugural RM2.2bil plant yesterday. Kedah Industry, Investment, Science and Innovation committee chairman Amiruddin Hamzah said other investors in the industry were also showing interest in the park. “If everything goes well, we plan to turn Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) into a hub for solar panels manufacturing,” he said yesterday. Amiruddin said this after officiating at the plant opening on behalf of Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak. The first solar panel manufacturing operations in Asia, First Solar occupies a 40ha site, making it the biggest investor in the park in terms of land area. First Solar makes solar panels or thin film photovoltaic panels used for... [read full story]