Hoku Materials said it has signed a supply agreement for hydrochloric acid with BHS Acquisitions. The deal is Hoku’s second trichlorosilane primary materials agreement in a week, following the announcement of its metallurgical-grade silicon contract with Polymet.
The two supply deals mean that Hoku has secured enough key starting material to operate its Pocatello, ID, polysilicon plant into 2010, according to the company.
According to the terms of the agreement, BHS will provide Hoku with guaranteed amounts of HCl for eight years, beginning in 2009. The annual amount of HCl is expected to be enough to support the continuous operation of Hoku’s trichlorosilane plant, which would enable the production of approximately 4000 metric tons of polysilicon per year.
BHS Acquisitions, a wholly owned subsidiary of BHS Marketing, is a leading chemical supplier with bulk liquid transloading facilities in Nampa, ID, that are serviced by Union Pacific Railroad.
“We are pleased to be working with BHS,” said Dustin Shindo (pictured), chairman/CEO of parent company Hoku Scientific. “Their operations in Idaho can receive and store liquid chemicals from railroad shipments, which will improve our overall supply chain logistics.”
“As a long-time supplier of industrial chemicals in the Pacific Northwest, our growth into the solar sector is a natural fit for us,” said Michael Merlo, VP of BHS Marketing. “Hoku is a leading company in this area, and we look forward to working with them.”