02/27/08 - Timminco Limited announced that its Board of Directors has approved capacity expansion plans for the production of solar grade silicon at its wholly owned subsidiary, Becancour Silicon Inc., at its location in Becancour, Quebec. The expansion is expected to raise the total annual production capacity of its solar grade silicon facilities to 14,400 metric tons from 3,600 metric tons. The expansion is expected to have a capital cost of approximately $65 million and will be completed by mid 2009, on a schedule that will enable BSI to meet all current customer commitments.

The expansion will include a new production facility equal in capacity to the manufacturing plant currently being commissioned. In addition, new production lines will be installed in BSI's existing silicon metal facility in Becancour to process first pass material. The balance of the project will comprise the construction of new buildings for packaging and shipping, maintenance and employee services. Funding of the project will be from current liquidity, customer deposits under long term supply agreements and expected cash flow from operations and will be expended throughout 2008 and the first half of 2009.

Existing long term customer supply contracts commit BSI for delivery of up to 6,000 metric tons per year beginning in 2009, and BSI has a pipeline of prospective customers who have expressed interest in entering into long term purchase commitments with BSI for solar grade silicon.

"The demand from customers and prospects for our solar grade silicon has confirmed the business case for expansion of our production facilities," said Mr. Rene Boisvert, President and CEO of BSI. "With the commencement of production in our new facility we can now direct our project team to replicate that facility to strengthen Timminco's position as a leader in production of solar grade silicon."