Wabtec Corporation and Rio Tinto SimFer, a joint venture among the Government of the Republic of Guinea, Rio Tinto and Chalco Iron Ore Holdings, have celebrated the unveiling of the first Evolution Series ES43ACi locomotive for TransGuinéen Railway.
This vehicle is part of SimFer’s 2024 locomotive order to support the rail operations for the Simandou high-grade iron ore project, in the southeast of Guinea, and is Africa’s largest mining and infrastructure development project.
“This locomotive symbolises a major step in our strategy to connect the Simandou project to the world, while bringing opportunities to the people of Guinea,” Charles Zimmermann, Global Head of Projects for Rio Tinto, said. “We are proud to see the first SimFer locomotive roll off the production line and begin to make its way towards Guinea. This locomotive and the entire TransGuinéen Railway are critical for transporting the high-grade iron from the mine to the global market. We are grateful for Wabtec’s contribution and the role it is playing in this unique project.”
The ceremony featured delegations from the Governments of Guinea, India and the United States, as well as executives from Rio Tinto SimFer, Indian Railways and Wabtec. The reveal showed off the locomotive donning the striking, blue and turquoise-colored livery of La Compagnie de TransGuinéen, the joint venture company that will operate the Simandou Railway.
“It is an honour to celebrate this milestone with our partners as we supply the advanced locomotives needed to meet the demands of the world’s largest untapped high-grade iron mine,” Mpilo Dlamini, Wabtec’s Regional Vice President of Sub-Saharan Africa, said. “This unveiling is a tribute to a global team that designed and built a locomotive specifically tailored for the Simandou project. These locomotives will efficiently facilitate the export of the mine’s critical minerals, while contributing to economic development in Guinea and providing access to services across the infrastructure corridor.”
The event also commemorated the first and largest export order of heavy-haul locomotives assembled by the Wabtec plant in Marhowra, India. Wabtec’s ES43ACi locomotive is equipped with a 4,500HP Evolution Series diesel engine, designed and manufactured in the United States. It provides best-in-class fuel efficiency and proven performance in high-temperature environments, Wabtec claims.
The Simandou mountain range subsoils contain world-class ore reserves of high-grade iron ore, estimated by Rio Tinto at around 1,500 Mt. The project includes the development of a 600-km multi-use railway connecting the mine to the port located on the coast of the Forécariah prefecture in Guinea. The international investment in the project and its infrastructure represents a transformational opportunity for Guinea, which will support economic growth across the country.
