Kazakhstan plans to order 205 electric locomotives from JV with Alstom in 2029-2036Kazakhstan is considering purchasing 205 six-axle electric locomotives to be produced at a joint venture with French company Alstom between 2029 and 2036, the press service of the country’s Ministry of Transport reported.“A contract is under consideration for the acquisition of 205 six-axle KZ6A-series electric locomotives for KTZ-Freight Transportation LLP, with delivery scheduled from 2029 to 2036. The manufacturer will be Electric Locomotives Manufacturing Plant LLP, (EKZ)” the statement said, following a meeting between Transport Minister Marat Karabayev and Alstom representatives.The parties discussed key terms for finalizing the future long-term contract.In November 2024, during Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to France, Kazakhstan’s railway operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) and French engineering conglomerate Alstom Transport SA signed an agreement to produce a new type of freight electric locomotive with asynchronous traction motors, the KZ6A, in Kazakhstan. The model will replace outdated VL-80 locomotives from the 1980s. The new locomotives are 40% cheaper, more energy-efficient, and reduce energy consumption by 20%.Alstom has committed to investing €50 million in building four electric locomotive maintenance centers.Additionally, KTZ, Electric Locomotives Manufacturing Plant LLP, and Alstom previously agreed to supply 117 freight electric locomotives by 2028.Alstom employs over 1,000 staff in Kazakhstan and operates seven production sites, including two factories. The first is the Electric Locomotives Manufacturing Plant (EKZ) in Astana, which manufactures and services electric locomotives. The second is the joint venture KazElectroPrivod (KEP) in Almaty, producing railway switch drives. Alstom’s plants are the sole manufacturers of electric locomotives and switch drives in Central Asia and the Caucasus. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX