News / National
Zimbabwe to buy 14 locomotives from China
06 Jun 2011 at 13:11hrs | Views
THE National Railways of Zimbabwe says it plans to buy 14 locomotives for about US$29 million from a Chinese company, as the parastatal seeks to enhance capacity.
NRZ spokesperson Mr Fanuel Masikati said the company had already paid a deposit of US$2,9 million and was negotiating for lines of credit.
Currently, NRZ has 65 locomotives against the optimum average requirement of 83.
The planned locomotive acquisition is part of the company's transformation programme, which started in 2003.
The programme is expected to revitalise and re-equip the parastatal by boosting its capacity, aimed at enhancing the country's economic recovery.
NRZ also acquired 12 000 tonnes of rail from China in 2006, which is being welded into 144 metres rail to replace some sections of rail network with speed restrictions on the North, South East, Dabuka-Harare and Mutare sections.
The NRZ has also entered into a deal with a local company to manufacture rail sleepers, which will be fitted simultaneously with the new rail.
At least 60 000 sleepers are to be manufactured and delivered to the NRZ this year. This is designed to immensely enhance the parastatal's rail replacement programme.
The railway network covers over 3 000km. The World Bank once recommended that the NRZ close down two-thirds of its railway network to allow for rehabilitation because of the high potential for disaster it poses.
NRZ was last year forced to stop the use of electric trains due to theft of equipment. The company requires about US$10 million to replace the vandalised equipment.
This year, NRZ is projecting to move 6,4 million tonnes of freight traffic, 1,2 million inter-city passengers and 1,3 million intra-city commuters.
NRZ spokesperson Mr Fanuel Masikati said the company had already paid a deposit of US$2,9 million and was negotiating for lines of credit.
Currently, NRZ has 65 locomotives against the optimum average requirement of 83.
The planned locomotive acquisition is part of the company's transformation programme, which started in 2003.
The programme is expected to revitalise and re-equip the parastatal by boosting its capacity, aimed at enhancing the country's economic recovery.
NRZ also acquired 12 000 tonnes of rail from China in 2006, which is being welded into 144 metres rail to replace some sections of rail network with speed restrictions on the North, South East, Dabuka-Harare and Mutare sections.
The NRZ has also entered into a deal with a local company to manufacture rail sleepers, which will be fitted simultaneously with the new rail.
At least 60 000 sleepers are to be manufactured and delivered to the NRZ this year. This is designed to immensely enhance the parastatal's rail replacement programme.
The railway network covers over 3 000km. The World Bank once recommended that the NRZ close down two-thirds of its railway network to allow for rehabilitation because of the high potential for disaster it poses.
NRZ was last year forced to stop the use of electric trains due to theft of equipment. The company requires about US$10 million to replace the vandalised equipment.
This year, NRZ is projecting to move 6,4 million tonnes of freight traffic, 1,2 million inter-city passengers and 1,3 million intra-city commuters.
Source - TNZ
