Wabtec Corporation 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. (Earlier post.)

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.

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.

—Wabtec President of Freight Equipment Rogerio Mendonca

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 more than 2 billion tonnes. Simandou represents a transformational opportunity for Guinea and will support economic development across the country.