Tashkent, Uzbekistan, August 7
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
Uzbekistan Railways (Ozbekiston Temir Yollari) state joint stock railway company plans to purchase ten electric locomotives from China by end of the year.
Head of information service of the State Inspection of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Railway transportation safety supervision Allambergen Kalimbetov said in the article published in the "Pravda Vostoka" newspaper.
As reported earlier, "Uzbekistan Railways" JSC implemented the purchase of electric locomotives in China in the amount of $158.7 million during the last 12 years.
In 2002-2004, China's CSR Zhuzhou electric locomotive Co provided "Uzbekistan Railways" SJSRC with 12 electric locomotives and spare parts for them worth $40 million. The financing of the contract is fully implemented by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
In 2008-2010, CSR Zhuzhou Electric delivered 15 passenger locomotives worth $74.3 million to Uzbekistan. The contract was funded by means of a loan from the Chinese Eximbank in the amount of $70.1 million and the funds of "Uzbekistan Railways" SJSRC.
In December 2011, Uzbek SJSRC signed a contract with the consortium consisting of Chinese CNTIC (China National Technical Imp & Ex Corporation) and CNR DLRC (CNR Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. Ltd) on the supply of 11 electric locomotives worth $44.39 million. The contract financed at the expense of Chinese Exim Bank`s loan in the amount of $42.17 million and "Uzbekistan Railways" SJSRC`s own funds.
The delivery of electric locomotives has been completed at the end of 2013.
"Electric locomotives of O'ZEL series, which were acquired two years ago, have successfully passed the road test and maximum involved in cargo transport today," the article said.
During the operation of the first batch of new cars, the labor intensity was reduced by 25 percent, the volume of consumed electricity energy by means of using regenerative braking- by 10 percent, the expenditures of materials and resources - by 40 percent and the weight carried by train by 12 percent.
Procurement of freight locomotives is scheduled for 2011-2015 within the framework of program for renewal and modernization of rolling stock.
Some 930 kilometers of Uzbekistan's railways with total length of 4,200 kilometers has been electrified, and over 600 kilometers of them has been electrified in last seven years. In total, it is planned to electrify nearly 2,000 kilometers of railways in the republic. About 60 percent of cargo turnover in the country and almost 80 percent of total export and import cargo transportation fell to Uzbekistan's railways.
Edited by CN