BEIJING- Dow Corning Corp and Germany's Wacker Chemie AG said they have started production at phase one of a pyrogenic silica and siloxane plant in Zhangjiagang, in eastern China's Jiangsu province.

Total investment is estimated at about 1.2 bln usd, with output going to the construction, beauty and personal care, power and automotive industries.

Combined capacity of siloxane and pyrogenic silica is estimated at about 200,000 tons a year, with full operational capacity reached by the end of 2010.

Covering an area of one mln square meters, the plant will be among the world's largest and most advanced integrated production complexes for silicones, the two companies added.

zachary.wei@xfn.com

(XFN-ASIA, Nov 17, 2008)