Kazakhstan in Talks with Wabtec on Green Locomotive Production
Kazakhstan and Wabtec Discuss Plans to Produce Green Locomotives
Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar and CEO of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (Wabtec) Rafael Santana recently met to discuss the company’s plans to produce new generation green locomotives in Kazakhstan. The meeting, held on July 11, focused on advancing the development of the railway industry in the country.
Sklyar emphasized the government’s commitment to modernizing the rolling stock fleet, highlighting the efforts to update and improve the railway infrastructure. He also expressed appreciation for the establishment of the Wabtec engineering center at Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty in Astana, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), which currently manufactures GE Transportation TE33A locomotives. These locomotives reduce particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions significantly, making them an environmentally friendly option.
Santana assured that the engineering center would concentrate on producing locomotives using alternative energy sources such as liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, and batteries. Additionally, the center will focus on enhancing the repair and maintenance services for locomotives produced in Kazakhstan and utilized in neighboring countries like Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Moldova.
Wabtec, a Fortune 500 company and a global leader in transportation and logistics, is exploring innovative ways for railroads to transition to cleaner energy solutions. The company envisions hydrogen as the future fuel for locomotives, either through internal combustion engines or fuel cells. In a significant move, Wabtec acquired full ownership of the locomotive assembly plant in Kazakhstan earlier this year, signaling its commitment to investing in the country’s rail industry.
Last September, Wabtec announced its plans to invest $1 billion in rail logistics in Kazakhstan, with a focus on producing hydrogen-fueled locomotives. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) is set to upgrade its fleet by purchasing 240 Wabtec locomotives using a $900 million loan from American Citibank.
The collaboration between Kazakhstan and Wabtec underscores a shared commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly transportation solutions, paving the way for a greener future for the railway industry in the region.
