GE / Angola Sign MOU on Rail and Aviation, GE to supply Approximately 100 Locomotives Over 5 years and Refurbish Current Fleet

15 February 2013
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GE Africa (Lagos)
press release
  • 15 GE C30ACi locomotives to be supplied over the next 12 months.
  • GE U20C's Brazilian built locomotives to be refurbishment within 12 months.
  • Approximately 85 GE C30ACi locomotives to be supplied over a five year period.

Luanda, Angola: General Electric Company (GE: NYSE)'s subsidiary GE Transportation and the Government of Angola on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on rail and aviation. The MOU includes the supply of approximately 100 diesel electric GE C30ACi locomotives that will be assembled at Transnet Engineering (TE). The latter is GE's partner in the assembly and manufacture of locomotives in Africa.

The MOU was signed on behalf of the two parties by the honourable minister of transport, Augusto Tomás da Silva and the global President and CEO of GE Transportation, Lorenzo Simonelli.

According to the signed MOU, GE will supply the ministry of transport with an initial 15 GE C30ACi locomotives within a year and approximately 85 GE C30ACi locomotives within five years. The C30ACi was the first AC diesel electric locomotive to be introduced in Sub-Saharan Africa and the first to meet UIC2 emissions standards. The locomotives are more fuel efficient and produce lower emissions than typical 30 year old diesel-electric locomotives operating currently operating across Africa. These new locomotives met emissions standards for brake-specific nitrogen oxides, unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.

In comparison to the average, thirty-year-old existing diesel-electric locomotive fleet, the C30ACi also offers a greater continuous tractive effort and a higher adhesion capability, allowing the same amount of freight to be hauled with fewer locomotives by replacing four of the older locomotives with three of the new models," GE President and CEO for transportation, Lorenzo Simonelli said.

He said GE is honoured to be the selected at the technology partner for the ministry of transport's locomotives renewal programme. The honourable minister of transport, Augusto Tomás da Silva noted that GE has a proven global and Africa wide track record of delivery the best in rail and especially locomotives technology.

He elaborated that the MOU will also incorporate the refurbishment of 8 of the existing fleet of locomotives. "GE will also assist is in refurbishing the GE U20C's Brazilian built locomotives within the next 12 months. This new acquisition and refurbishment will ensure that are geared to meet the ever growing demand for a sustainable and efficient rail network as Angola's economic activity grows into the future," he said.

GE Transportation is respected as a provider of commuter and freight rail solutions to Africa's vast and aging rail networks. GE was part of Kenya Railways fleet renewal programme, and assisted the company in improving the efficiency of aging locomotive fleets. In Tanzania and Zambia, GE Transportation modernised 18 locomotives for the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority, and installed the GE Bright Star control system. In Nigeria, GE Transportation partnered with the Nigerian Rail Corporation (NRC) to supply 25 diesel locomotives as part of that country's fleet renewal programme

In South Africa, the company recently supplied South Africa's state owned company Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) with 100 diesel electric AC30Ci locomotives and will deliver an additional 43 by June 2013.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

About GE Transportation
GE Transportation, a unit of GE (NYSE: GE), solves the world's toughest transportation challenges. GE Transportation builds equipment that moves the rail, mining and marine industries. Our fuel-efficient and lower-emissions freight and passenger locomotives, diesel engines for rail, marine and stationary power applications, signaling and software solutions, drive systems for mining trucks, and value-added services help customers grow. GE Transportation is headquartered in Erie, Penn., and employs approximately 12,000 employees worldwide. For more information visit: www.getransportation.com.
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For more information, contact:

Thulisile Phiri
Media Relations Manager – GE Africa
+2779 885 0530
Thulisile.phiri@ge.com

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