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Transnet orders 43 more GE units, boosts locomotive manufacturing capacity
Engineering News Online reports that state-owned freight logistics group Transnet has concluded a 'follow-on' agreement with General Electric (GE), of the US, for a further 43 diesel-electric locomotives, over-and-above the 100 already being purchased under a deal concluded in 2009. No contract value has been disclosed, owing to a confidentiality agreement between the two companies.
The 143 locomotives will be introduced to the Phalaborwa-Richards Bay corridor (53), the Sishen-Saldanha iron-ore corridor (30), the Witbank-Nelspruit-Komatipoort line (32) and to transport coal to Eskom power stations (28). The 43 Class 43-000 locomotives are to be built by Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE) at its workshops in Koedoespoort, north of Pretoria, and will include higher local content levels than those achieved with the first batch.
Transnet chairperson Mafika Mkwanazi indicated that the deal further consolidated TRE as a potential original equipment supplier of locomotives for third parties, including other African and international railways businesses. Company CE Richard Vallihu told Engineering News Online that the company is also working on a TRE locomotive design, which is being tailored to suite African markets. About R70-million has been invested in facilities needed to produce "world-class" locomotives and to increase TRE's internal research and product development capacity. The business is on track to move up to 72-million tons of coal and 54-million tons of iron-ore by March 31, Vallihu said.
Read the full article on www.engineeringnews.co.za.
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