Alstom and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) closed the deal of Alstom’s acquisition of an additional 25% in the EKZ joint venture (JV), formed by Alstom, KTZ and Transmashholding (TMH) to produce electric locomotives in Kazakhstan.
Alstom becomes the main shareholder of EKZ with 50% of the shares, with KTZ and TMH both holding 25% of the joint venture. Alstom, which held one seat in the EKZ board of directors, will now have two.
Alstom and EKZ also signed an agreement for the production of on-board transformers for the electric locomotives at its factory in order to become a significant manufacturer for such components for Alstom. The production at EKZ is planned to start in 2016. The plant should manufacture 200 transformers per year. This project will allow creating over 100 local jobs.
Following these agreements, Alstom will enhance its efforts in developing the EKZ factory in Astana and locally create world-quality products with an export potential, making EKZ one of the main drivers of the Kazakh economy and a hub for the production and export of locomotives to the world, starting with neighbouring countries of Eurasian Economic Union and CIS, such as Azerbaijan or Uzbekistan.
EKZ is working on supplying the electric locomotives ordered by KTZ for 2020. Currently, 31 KZ8A freight locomotives and six passenger KZ4AT locomotives are already in operation on Kazakhstan’s rail lines. In 2015, Alstom and EKZ were awarded by Azerbaijan Railways a contract to deliver 50 additional locomotives to Azerbaijan.
Photo: Alstom
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