Representing one of its biggest orders in the past five years, US-based rail technology company Wabtec received a $248-million order for its Evolution Series ES43ACmi locomotives and services from iron-ore-developing investor consortium Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS) at the start of the year.

WCS ordered the locomotives to support its rail operations at its high-grade Simandou iron-ore joint venture (JV) project, located in the east of Guinea.

Wabtec reports that deliveries of the locomotives will start this year already.

The agreement follows a locomotive order a few months earlier from Simandou iron-ore JV partner SimFer, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, to also serve its operations at Simandou.

“This locomotive order with Wabtec is another important milestone for the Simandou project,” says WCS CEO Zhang Cheng.

The 600 km TransGuinéen Railway, which is currently under construction, will connect the Simandou mine and the Port of Morebaya.

As work continues to build the TransGuinéen Railway, he says WCS will have the equipment resources in place that support the high international standards that the consortium has committed to deliver.

“As the world’s largest untapped high grade iron-ore deposit, Simandou represents a transformational economic opportunity for Guinea and Wabtec’s commitment extends beyond delivering advanced locomotive solutions to ensure the success of this critical initiative in partnership with WCS and SimFer,” says Wabtec regional sub-Saharan Africa VP Mpilo Dlamini.

Designed for Harsh Environments

The ES43ACmi is a dual-cab locomotive with a 4 500 hp Evolution Series engine, which Wabtec says, provides “exceptional” fuel efficiency and proven performance in harsh, high temperature and dusty environments, such as in eastern Guinea.

The locomotives are capable of meeting UIC 3a and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 3 emission standards.

Standout features of the locomotives include air-conditioned cabs, single axle control, high-temperature operability, an auxiliary power unit and improved fuel efficiency.

Wabtec offers a range of products to mining clients, including systems of collision awareness, advanced monitoring and sensing, operations performance management, services management, value chain optimisation, workforce transformation, electric drive, and power and data transfer.