ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih has purchased a locomotive TM2U-9043 that is already in operation and used in metallurgical process. In addition to that, the plant sent 5 locomotives to Nikolaev Locomotive Repair Plant for capital repair, and a tendering process for 5 more locomotives will start in the nearest time.
Depending on the intensity of operation and service life, it is required to carry out capital repair of locomotives every six years. For many plants of mining and metallurgical industry that have impressive Soviet-design locomotive fleet, it is a serious issue: there is not enough repair capacities in Ukraine for them – only few plants can perform such repairs in a qualitative manner.
Furthermore, to carry out capital repair of the locomotives, it is required to use spare parts, the delivery of which is banned by Russia, as they are the products of double-purpose (used in military equipment). In particular, diesel engines, the demand in which is especially high on the part of mining and metallurgical industry plants. Therefore, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih started installing new US-manufactured Cummins diesel motors in its locomotives.
Andrey Kindrat, acting director of Transport Department, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih: “The first repaired loco with American motor was received back last year. Initially, there were some issues during its operation, but then the contractor eliminated them and Cummins gave a good account of itself in the work. Three more locomotives with American motors were received this year – we signed the contracts for their delivery in 2018 with Komtek company, the official representative of Cummins in Ukraine. Thanks to American motors, we partially manage to solve the issue with spare parts. But still there is a problem with locomotive-building and repair base in Ukraine. Our locomotive fleet for steel plant operation contains 125 items. Every year, there should be capital repairs done for 20 locomotives, actually, we manage to repair 10. Consequently, we must rent missing number of locomotives. Currently, for steel plant operation, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih rents 7 locomotives from Kyiv-Dniprovskyi inter-industry company of industrial railway transport (MPPZhT). This allows covering missing demand in locos, but results in additional costs. However, Ukrainian metallurgists have no other way out so far”. (AMKR/Ukrainian metal)