Wabtec Corporation has announced an order for Evolution Series ES43ACmi locomotives from SimFer, a joint venture among the Government of the Republic of Guinea, Rio Tinto, and Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH). The order, valued at $277 million, will provide a locomotive fleet to service the rail operations for the Simandou high-grade iron ore project, located in the east of Guinea.

SimFer Managing Director Chris Aitchison said: “Our new partnership with Wabtec represents an important milestone for the Simandou project and brings us even closer to the delivery of the TransGuinéen railway – critical infrastructure that can support economic development across the country.”

He added: “This partnership reinforces our commitment to delivering Simandou to globally recognised environmental standards, by providing locomotives that will deliver best-in-class fuel efficiency and the capability to meet international emission standards.”

The ES43ACmi is a dual-cab locomotive with a 4,500HP Evolution Series engine. The locomotive provides best-in-class fuel efficiency, and proven performance in high-temperature environments. It also meets UIC 3A and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 3 emission standards.

Wabtec President of Freight Equipment Rogerio Mendonca said: “We are proud that the largest mining and related infrastructure project in Africa will leverage Wabtec’s world leading engineering and manufacturing resources. Our global team worked together to understand SimFer’s needs and provide a solution specifically tailored for Simandou.”

The Simandou mountain range, located in the southeast of the Republic of Guinea, contains the world’s largest untapped reserve of high-grade iron ore, estimated at over 2 billion tonnes. Simandou represents a transformational opportunity for Guinea and will support economic development across the country.