During a trackside ceremony today outside Pretoria, GE Transportation and Transnet Limited celebrated the introduction of the first two of 100 new GE locomotives for South Africa.
“GE is honored to participate in this historic event as we mark the arrival of the first two GE locomotives to South Africa,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation. “These locomotives herald great opportunities for Transnet and South Africa as well as GE. Transnet will be able to significantly improve hauling capability while reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Our partnership also is a significant investment in job development, economic advancement and infrastructure growth on both sides of the Atlantic.”
In December 2009, GE announced a landmark contract with Transnet Limited to supply 100 GE Model C30ACi locomotives.
GE’s Model C30ACi Locomotive is a product of ecomaginationSM. Ecomagination is a GE-wide initiative to help meet customer demand for more energy-efficient products. The locomotives will enable customers to haul the same amount of freight with fewer locomotives thereby reducing fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.
GE's C30ACi also will be the first locomotive in the South African region to meet stringent UIC2 emissions standards. With GE's C30ACi locomotives a South African customer can deploy three C30ACi models to haul a load that would require four older locomotives, reducing annual diesel fuel consumption by 600,000 liters under typical operating conditions. It can reduce emissions by 1,500 metric tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to eliminating the emissions from 310 cars on South African roads.
GE’s Model C30ACi is the first AC diesel-electric locomotive to be introduced to sub-Saharan Africa. Its engine delivers 3,300 Gross Horse Power (GHP) using an electronic fuel injection system that automatically supplies the exact amount of fuel needed for optimal engine efficiency. The locomotives also feature GE’s unique AC propulsion technology and dynamic braking. The addition of these new locomotives, which will be used to haul freight and coal, will decrease life-cycle costs, improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
Read the entire press announcement here. GE and Transnet Celebrate First AC Diesel Electric Locomotives to South Africa
