Green Energy denies fire has affected E-ton's orders

Green Energy Technology Inc (綠能科技), a manufacturer of solar photovoltaic multicrystalline silicon wafers, said yesterday that its orders from E-ton Solar Tech Co (益通光能) were not affected by an explosion at its factory on Sunday.

Green Energy made the statement in a filing to the Taiwan Stock Exchange amid speculation that E-ton, the nation's second-largest solar cell maker, has shifted its orders to a rival manufacturer, Wafer Works Corp (合晶科技).

E-ton said in a separate filing to the Taiwan Stock Exchange yesterday that its operation was not affected by the accident as it sources only a small portion of its raw materials from Green Energy.

E-ton said it still has sufficient inventory for production, the statement read.

On Sunday, a furnace at Green Energy's factory in Taoyuan County exploded at about 2pm, killing two workers.

Green Energy said the accident has had little impact on its operation and capacity. Apart from one damaged furnace, the other 25 furnaces are operating normally, it said.

The company did not say how long the authorities' investigation into the accident would take. However, it said it would deliver its orders on time, the statement read.

Founded in 2004, Green Energy started cmass production in May last year, with annual production capacity of multicrystalline silicon wafers now reaching 60 megawatts.

Its parent company Tatung Co (大同), a major electronics home appliance maker that holds a 90 percent stake in Green Energy, said that the explosion would not affect its application to list Green Energy on the GRETAI Securities Market.

Shares of Green Energy closed at NT$253 (US$7.73) on the Emerging Stock Market (興櫃市場) yesterday, up from NT$249.25 the previous day.

Shares of Tatung were up 0.33 percent at NT$15.20 on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.