The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has confirmed its readiness to provide funds for renewing the fleet of dual-powered electric locomotives of the Ukrainian Railways joint-stock company (Ukrzaliznytsia).
The Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure announced this in a statement, the CFTS portal reports.
The loan is expected to be used to purchase 50 electric locomotives.
According to the statement, the Single Project Portfolio (SPP) currently includes an important project to renew the electric locomotive fleet. The EBRD is ready to provide funds to enable Ukrzaliznytsia to partially renew its fleet of dual-powered electric locomotives.
"Currently, the EBRD is ready to provide a loan of EUR 300 million for purchasing 50 electric locomotives. At the same time, thanks to a grant from the World Bank's Repairing Essential Logistics Infrastructure & Network Connectivity (RELINC) project, it will be possible to purchase an additional 30 electric locomotives for a total of USD 190 million. This will enable Ukraine to replenish its locomotive fleet with 80 dual-powered electric locomotives," said Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Development of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Tymur Tkachenko.
The EBRD’s Managing Director for Ukraine and Moldova Arvid Tuerkner added that it is necessary to coordinate each joint project step by step to ensure everything goes according to plan.
As previously reported, in June 2014 Ukrzaliznytsia reached an agreement with the EBRD on the provision of an additional EUR 300 million for purchasing electric freight locomotives as part of the program to renew the company's locomotive fleet.
The relevant memorandum between Ukrzaliznytsia, the EBRD, and the Ukrainian Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure was signed in Berlin during the Ukraine Recovery Conference. The parties also agreed to conduct a pre-investment technical, environmental, social, financial, and economic review of the project.
Ukrzaliznytsia intends to purchase up to 80 modern electric freight locomotives under the RELINC grant financing project administered by the World Bank and supported by a targeted loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The tender has already been published on the EBRD's Client e-Procurement Portal.
In addition to delivering the locomotives, the tender requirements stipulate the winner must establish conditions for the maintenance and warranty repair of the new traction rolling stock in Ukraine.
Ukrzaliznytsia announced a tender for the supply of electric locomotives in May 2024. It planned to purchase 30 or 80 electric locomotives, depending on the availability of funds.
According to the tender documents, the potential supplier must develop and offer Ukrzaliznytsia 80 mainline electric locomotives for dual (AC/DC) supply voltage, including 25 kV, and a minimum operating speed of 120 km/h. In addition, the supplier must train Ukrzaliznytsia personnel to operate the new locomotives.
In addition, the tender documents require bidders to submit two versions of their bids: one for 30 locomotives and one for 80 locomotives. Depending on the availability of funds, the contract will be awarded to the bidder with the most favorable proposal: either 80 locomotives in two separate contracts for 30 and 50 locomotives (to be financed with a World Bank grant and an EBRD loan), or 30 locomotives in one contract (to be financed with World Bank funds only).
