Funds for electric locomotive production program at Luhanskteplovoz not yet found, says minister
Sources of financing for a program to produce freight electric locomotives for Ukrzaliznytsia at public joint-stock company Luhanskteplovoz have not yet been determined, Infrastructure Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Kozak said at a briefing in Odesa on Wednesday.
"We expected that this would be settled within a week, but unfortunately some investors, including the Russian ones, have taken a pause in the issue. We have alternative offers. The issue is not off the agenda," he said.
The minister said that a feasibility study of the project has been approved at one of the state-run banks of Ukraine, which will allow the localizing of the production of the electric locomotives as much as possible.
"In the near term, I think that within one month, you'll see a result," he said.
As reported, Luhanskteplovoz, the owner of which is Russia's Transmashholding, by 2017 plans to supply 300 freight AC/DC locomotives to Ukrzaliznytsia. The preliminary total cost of the locomotives is around UAH 12 billion.
An agreement on the realization of the order at the production facilities of the Ukrainian plant was reached, according to which the contract will be signed between Ukrzaliznytsia and Luhanskteplovoz, taking into account the wishes and proposals of the customer and the producer.
First Deputy Director General of Ukrzaliznytsia Mykola Serhiyenko said that it is likely that the source of payment for the order will be a financial leasing system. A tender for the provision of the services has been announced.
He expressed confidence that the project will be realized in 2013-2016. The production of electric locomotives will start this year, and in 2015 the plant will reach a production capacity of 100 electric locomotives (200 power sections) per year.
As reported, in July 2011, Ukrzaliznytsia, Transmashholding, Luhanskteplovoz, and Luhansk Regional Administration signed a protocol of intent on the acquisition of 292 2EL4 freight direct-current locomotives by Ukrzaliznytsia in 2012-2016. Later the order was transferred to Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (NEVZ, Russia).
