NOVELTY - Silicon is induction melted and stirred, while directing a plasma onto the bath surface to eliminate impurities.    USE - To produce silicon for photovoltaic cells.    ADVANTAGE - The process permits industrial mass production of photovoltaic cell grade silicon (e.g. from metallurgical grade silicon) as well as doping of the silicon in a single installation.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A silicon refining process comprises filling a cold induction crucible (1) with solid silicon, liquefying the crucible contents, stirring the silicon bath (b) by causing the liquid to rise from the crucible bottom towards the free surface and then flow back along the central axis of the crucible, and then directing a plasma (f) from an inductive plasma torch (2) onto the bath surface to eliminate impurities by means of the reactive gas (gr) of the plasma. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a silicon refining installation comprising a cold induction crucible (1), an inductive plasma torch (2) and a removable magnetic ring between the torch and the crucible.    Preferred Features: Several reactive gases are used sequentially and are selected from chlorine, oxygen, hydrogen and water vapor. Doping is carried out after purification by reversing the stirring direction and injecting the doping element (especially hydrogen) as a reactive gas of the plasma. The silicon is treated in batches of volume corresponding to the crucible volume, a heel being left in the crucible after each treatment to promote melting of the next batch. During startup, the plasma is used without reactive gas for heating the silicon to a temperature at which it is conductive, subsequent heating and temperature maintenance being carried out by induction. The crucible has a bottom opening (14) controlled by an electromagnetic valve (5).    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic view of a refining installation according to the invention during the silicon purification stage.    Silicon bath (b)    Plasma flame (f)    Reactive gas (gr)    Cold crucible (1)    Inductive plasma torch (2)    Electromagnetic valve (5)    Induction coil (12)    Crucible bottom opening (14)