Russian freight operator Gazpromtrans, a subsidiary of gas company Gazprom, has awarded a contract to Sinara Transport Machines (STM) for the supply and maintenance of 24 shunting locomotives powered by liquified natural gas (LNG).
These locomotives will be operated on Gazprom’s 525km-long Obskaya-Bovanenkovo railway (Pictured) in northern Russia.
This line is key to supplying construction materials and machinery for the Yamal megaproject, which aims to establish a new gas production centre that will be capable of producing up to 360 billion cubic metres of gas per year in the Yamal Peninsula, according to Gazprom.
STM will produce the new locomotives, which will have a service life of 50 years, at its Lyudinovo Diesel Locomotive Plant.
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From 2019 to 2024, STM will deliver 10 shunters with up to 1,200 horsepower and 14 shunters with up to 2,000 horsepower.
A spokesperson for STM said that these locomotives could reduce fuel costs by as much as 40 per cent and will also reduce the amount of harmful emissions produced.
The deal between the two parties follows calls from Russian president Vladimir Putin to ditch diesel in favour of natural gas, of which the country has an abundance of.
The contract for 24 shunters was penned by Gazpromtrans director Vyacheslav Tyurin and STM director Viktor Lesh at the annual Petersburg International Economic Forum, in St Petersburg, on May 25.
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