Qcells, the U.S. solar manufacturing unit of South Korea’s Hanwha Group, has announced the temporary furlough of around 1,000 workers at its Georgia production facilities due to delays in the arrival of imported solar components.
The company said that shipments of essential materials from overseas are being held up by U.S. customs officials, disrupting production at its factories in Cartersville and Dalton. The move affects about half of Qcells’ manufacturing workforce, including the termination of around 300 staffing agency positions.
The situation follows earlier reports that some of Qcells’ shipments of solar cells had been detained at U.S. ports under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), a 2021 law that bans imports from China’s Xinjiang region due to concerns about forced labor practices.
Despite the recent disruptions, Qcells reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint. The company is investing $2.5 billion to establish a fully integrated solar supply chain in the United States, aimed at reducing dependence on Chinese imports and supporting domestic clean energy goals.
Qcells currently manufactures solar cells in Malaysia and South Korea, which are then imported for assembly into panels in the U.S. The company is also ramping up domestic cell manufacturing capacity in Cartersville as part of its strategy to strengthen the local solar ecosystem, Reuters news report said.
“Qcells expects to resume full production in the coming weeks and months,” said company spokesperson Marta Stoepker. “Our commitment to building the entire solar supply chain in the United States remains strong. We will soon be back on track with the full force of our Georgia team delivering American-made energy to communities around the country.”
While shipments detained earlier this year have begun clearing customs, the delays have forced Qcells to temporarily reduce output. The company said it remains focused on restoring operations quickly and continuing to contribute to the growth of U.S.-made renewable energy products.
GreentechLead.com News Desk