Element Group plans to invest 20 billion rubles. launch of diodes and transistors at the Micron plant

Element Group plans to invest 20 billion rubles. the launch of the production of power components – diodes and transistors – at the Mikron plant. They are used on the boards of almost all electronic devices and are now 90% purchased in China. Element expects to provide up to 60% of Russian demand for such components in the next six years. But the domestic market will not be enough to pay off the project, experts say.

Sources of Kommersant in the microelectronics market told that Element Group of Companies plans to launch the production of power components (transistors and diodes made of silicon and silicon carbide) at its Mikron plant in the next two years. The project is called “Cube”, confirmed to Kommersant in “Element”. They clarified that the components are used, among other things, in household appliances, telecommunications and transport equipment, and control units of nuclear reactors.

“Until recently, more than 90% of the needs of the Russian market for such components were met by foreign manufacturers,” they say in the Group of Companies. Element expects “to launch production within six years” to provide up to 60% of demand in Russia. The State Corporation does not specify the start date for production, but they expect to reach its design capacity of 100 thousand silicon wafers and 40 thousand silicon carbide wafers by 2030.

Kommersant’s interlocutor, familiar with Element’s plans, said that the group will invest about 20 billion rubles in the new production. Last week, Micron already launched two additional lines for assembling microcircuits into plastic cases and for assembling chip modules for bank cards. Investments in debugging amounted to 1.35 billion rubles, of which 1 billion rubles. received through the Industrial Development Fund (see “Kommersant” dated March 21).

Against the backdrop of growth in electronics production in China, Asian factories producing power components are focused on their own market, which affects the availability of products in the Russian Federation, says Kommersant’s source in the industry. Electronics manufacturer Fplus reported that they plan to increase the share of the Russian component base. “If Element Group implements its stated plans for production development, then in conditions of high demand for components, plans for market share are feasible,” Fplus believes.

Sergei Kupriyanov, vice president for commerce of the Rikor group (produces computers, boards, etc.), says that they are ready to use power components from the Group of Companies: “At the moment, we mainly purchase everything we need in China, but implementing such supplies takes time and complicated financial logistics.”

The project opens up the possibility of using Russian components in a wide range of electronics – from household appliances to uninterruptible power supplies, electric cars, adds Fedor Boyarkov, vice president for production development at GS Group. In his opinion, to conquer the market, Element will require serious investments, which “will affect the final cost of the product.” “But if the state encourages the use of domestic components, and Element establishes mass production, over time prices may become competitive with foreign ones,” believes Mr. Boyarkov.

The market for power components is promising and does not require such large-scale investments as digital microcircuits, where project evaluation costs tens of billions of dollars, notes Ivan Pokrovsky, executive director of the Association of Electronics Developers and Manufacturers. According to him, the planned investments of the Element Group of Companies amount to 20 billion rubles. ($200 million) “are considered a major investment even at the level of world leaders in the production of power components.”

“The entire Russian market for power semiconductor devices is about $90 million (RUB 8.3 billion), and its potential is approximately $250 million (RUB 23 billion), provided that 100% of the market is occupied by Russian power converters,” Mr. Pokrovsky clarified . In his opinion, the Russian market will not be enough for the Element project to pay off, so the Group of Companies needs to study export opportunities.

Timofey Kornev