The supplier told Railway Age that it would provide “several dozen” of units, which are slated to serve the Simandou high-grade iron ore project’s rail operation in the West African country of Guinea.
The ES43ACmi is described as a dual-cab locomotive with a 4,500 HP Evolution Series engine. According to Wabtec, it “provides best-in-class fuel efficiency and proven performance in high-temperature environments”; it also meets UIC 3A and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 3 emission standards.
The Simandou mountain range, located in southeast Guinea, is said to contain the world’s largest untapped reserve of high-grade iron ore, estimated at more than 2 billion tons. The Simandou project includes rail and port infrastructure development for iron ore export. Earlier this year, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the 416-mile (670-kilometer) Trans-Guinean Railway that will run from Beyla to Forécariah and a deep-water port at Moribayah, according to a report from International Railway Journal, a Railway Age sister publication.
“Our new partnership with Wabtec represents an important milestone for the Simandou project and brings us even closer to the delivery of the Trans-Guinean Railway—critical infrastructure that can support economic development across the country,” SimFer Managing Director Chris Aitchison said.
“We are proud that the largest mining and related infrastructure project in Africa will leverage Wabtec’s world-leading engineering and manufacturing resources,” Wabtec President of Freight Equipment Rogerio Mendonca said. “Our global team worked together to understand SimFer’s needs and provide a solution specifically tailored for Simandou.”
