ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih began to apply domestic and foreign analogues instead of Russian components for the capital repairs of locomotives, thus minimizing the impact of Russian Federation’s sanctions regarding prohibition on delivery of locomotives’ spare parts and engines to Ukraine.
After the events of 2014-2015, military and technical cooperation between the countries was frozen. Dual-use products (can be used both as civil products and military) were also suspended, including diesel engines for locomotives.
Ukrainian companies of mining and steelmaking sector, which have extensive fleet of locomotives, have faced weak production and repair capacities in the country, because most of these companies are in Russia. ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih has one of the biggest fleet in the sector – 172 locomotives (126 for steelmaking industry and 46 – for mining industry). Therefore, the company accepted its own so-called program of import substitution few years ago.
Mykolayiv Locomotive Repair Plant (MLRP) became one of the basic partners in steel sector that established production cooperation with several Ukrainian and foreign manufacturers of different equipment for railway machinery. Due to collaborative developments, MLRP began to use diesel engines for locomotives of well-known global companies which are American Cummins, English Belgium АВС group etc. Besides, to install the newest system of Heinzmann (Germany) for engine control on machines, Rotary vane compressor made on the basis of co-production with Mattei Italian company, modern locomotive unit of alternating current (Electrotyazhmash State Enterprise Plant), microprocessor locomotive control system and other equipment.
Joint cooperation was successful. In 2018-2019 ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih had the opportunity to repair 11 locomotives, including engine change and major overhaul. In addition, the company was able to overhaul 16 machines on the base of its two locomotive repair depots. ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih spent totally about UAH 320 million on its two-year program on repair of 27 locomotives.
Aleksey Rybalkin, Head of Transport Department, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih: “Modernization rate for our locomotives could be higher, but now in Ukraine we do not have enough locomotive repair plants of high quality level. Besides, we began developing of our own overhaul base. One of our depots specializes in repair of diesel locomotives of TGM series, other one – of ТEМ series. For our company it is cheaper to execute current repair internally. In addition to lower costs, we increase skill level of our own personnel that can take even more difficult projects after repair of next in turn locomotive. Deep modernization is carried out by our stakeholders. Overall, all these gives opportunity to increase effective railway fleet in our company”.
In addition, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih actively acquires railway equipment. Therefore, at the beginning of 2019 the company bought one locomotive. Also during the past year the metallurgical plant entered into contract based on financial leasing schemes for supplying of four locomotives made by CZ Loko (the Czech Republic). These locomotives of EffiShunter 1600 series with total cost of 9 million euro will be received in 2020. Besides, in April the company will get shunt railway car of Mercedes-Benz Unimog Implement carrier U423 with total cost about UAH 15 million. (AMKR/Ukrainian metal)