The Luganskteplovoz company, which is owned by Russian-based Transmashholding company, is currently operating in the first and third shifts three days per week because of limited power supplies, the Interfax Ukraine news agency reports.
"We have to send 16 locomotives to the Russian Railways this month, but it is difficult to talk about plans for November, now, considering all the existing difficulties, including those involving procurement of fuel," the company said.
According to a statement on the website of Luganskteplovoz, its production facilities are operating at full capacity to fulfill contracts for supply of mainline freight locomotives to railways and for export. The company stressed that it is currently not performing any other operations apart from production of locomotives.
As reported, Luganskteplovoz stopped production in early August after shelling damaged a power station in Lugansk. The Russian Railways redirected orders for locomotives from Luganskteplovoz to Russian enterprises in early September.
Luganskteplovoz resumed production on October 1. The company uses electricity from the public power grid and powerful generators installed on its territory. According to estimates by the company, it has failed to fulfil orders for supply of 50 locomotives to Russia since suspending operation.
