ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 1. Wabtec plans to invest around $200 million in the development of new products using alternative fuels, Trend reports.
The next decade will see the start of investments, beginning in 2027.
This announcement came during a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektenov, and Rafael Santana, the President of American company Wabtec. The discussion focused on integrating "green" technologies into the railway sector.
The "Locomotive Assembly Plant" has demonstrated its leadership in transportation engineering in Central Asia. In addition to meeting domestic demand, the plant exports freight, passenger, and shunt locomotives to countries such as Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and others. The plant has created over 800 jobs, enabling employees to participate in regional and global projects while receiving training in the USA. Astana inaugurated a new engineering center this June to develop "green" locomotives powered by alternative energy sources.
In his speech at the Foreign Investors Council meeting, the head of state underscored Kazakhstan's commitment to enhancing its role as a key Eurasian transit hub. He emphasized the importance of developing the transport and logistics sector, renewing infrastructure, and localizing manufacturing within the country.
"We greatly appreciate business initiatives focused on production localization and are ready to support these companies. Such projects will position Kazakhstan as a hub for locomotive production and modernization, integrating us into the global supply chain," stated Olzhas Bektenov.
Wabtec stands as a technological leader in electronic braking and positive train control, enhancing the safety, performance, and efficiency of railroads. The company is a long-term investment partner of Kazakhstan, advancing the localization of locomotive manufacturing in the country.