A 50 million euro locomotive manufacturing plant has been opened in Kazakhstan’s capital to address the country’s need for new rolling stock.
The new unit in Astana was unveiled at a special ceremony today (December 4) by project partners Kazakh Railways (KTZ), Alstom and Transmashholding (TMH).
The new plant, which will be operated by EKZ, has the capacity to produce 100 locomotives a year and will employ around 650 people by the end of 2016
Production will start in January next year with the 1.3 billion euro order placed by KTZ in 2010 for 200 freight locomotives (KZ8A) and 95 passenger locomotives (KZ4AT).
The 10 pre-series locomotives are being produced in Alstom’s manufacturing facility in Belfort, France. As part of the program for transferring skills, EKZ employees will undergo a training program in Belfort and at TMH’s production premises in Novocherkassk, Russia
TMH president Andrey Bokarev said: “We have been closely following the industrial policy implemented in Kazakhstan.
“We regard president Nazarbaev’s [president, Kazakh Railways] commitment to create a national industrial base as a wise strategic step.
“It’s an honor for TMH to be chosen by the Kazakhstan government as a technology partner. I would like to assure the government and the people of Kazakhstan that our specialists will do their best to help the Republic create its own local full-scale production of rolling stock.”
“With this plant, which is a tangible result of our recent partnership with KTZ, Alstom has established a strong footprint in Kazakhstan,” said Alstom chief executive Patrick Kron.
“It is our first joint international project with TMH and I am positive that it is a milestone on the way to future development of the partnership and new projects in a promising dynamic market.”
The first KZ8A freight locomotive, manufactured at the Alstom Transport plant in Belfort was delivered to the Astana plant for the ceremony.
