UPDATE 1-Hoku posts Q1 loss, to slow Idaho plant construction

* Q1 loss $0.04/share; revenue down 66 pct

* Says to slow Idaho polysilicon plant construction

* Gets customer commitments of $243 mln for Idaho plant

July 30 (Reuters) - Hoku Scientific Inc (HOKU.O), a supplier of raw materials to the solar industry, reported a quarterly loss and said it had taken steps to temporarily slow construction and procurement efforts for its polysilicon plant in Idaho.

"Hoku Materials has identified a number of potentially viable sources of financing, but we recognize that it will require a few more months to evaluate all options and negotiate the right deal," Chief Executive Dustin Shindo said.

Earlier this month, the company said it may explore the sale of the company as it struggles to raise capital for its Idaho polysilicon plant, estimated to cost $390 million to build. [ID:nBNG462815]

Hoku said its customers have committed to make $228 million in contractual prepayments, and Suntech Power (STP.N) may pay an additional $15 million, bringing the total amount of customer commitments for the plant to $243 million.

Hoku said a funding gap of between $106 million and $121 million remained and it would resume construction and procurement efforts once it had secured the first $30 million to $50 million of the remaining amount.

For the first quarter, the company reported a net loss of $905,000, or 4 cents a share, compared with earnings of $178,000, or 1 cent a share, last year.

Sales fell 66 percent to $74,000.

Analysts on average were looking for a loss of 7 cents a share, on revenue of $570,000, according to Reuters Estimates.

Shares of the company were up 2 percent at $2.20 in trading after the bell. They closed at $2.15 Thursday on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Adveith Nair in Bangalore; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott)