A Chinese technician shows the operation to Uzbek driver on the electric locomotive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Dec. 17, 2020. Uzbekistan on Thursday received the first batch of four heavy-duty and environmentally friendly electric locomotives from its Chinese suppliers. Uzbekistan will receive a total of 30 electric locomotives from China, designed both for passenger and cargo transportation, including 24 under a contract worth 134 million U.S. dollars signed in 2019 and six others purchased earlier this year. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)
TASHKENT, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan on Thursday received the first batch of four heavy-duty and environmentally friendly electric locomotives from its Chinese suppliers.
Uzbekistan will receive a total of 30 electric locomotives from China, designed both for passenger and cargo transportation, including 24 under a contract worth 134 million U.S. dollars signed in 2019 and six others purchased earlier this year.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese partners succeeded to fulfill their contractual obligations and managed to deliver the first batch of locomotives on time, Khusniddin Khasilov, acting chairman of the state-run railway company "O'zbekiston Temir Yo'llari," said during the official delivery ceremony.
"These locomotives are capable of carrying passengers and cargo loads, including heavy ones, even in mountain ranges with difficult terrain where we need them mostly, and therefore they will be put into operation as soon as possible," Khasilov said.
Mao Zenan, representative of the Chinese suppliers, said they have taken into consideration Uzbekistan's mountainous landscape.
"They are fully adapted for the region and have all the characteristics of the latest generation locomotives -- high power, efficiency, reliability, excellent operational characteristics and ergonomics," said Mao, vice-president of the Uzbek branch of the China National Technical Import and Export Corporation. Enditem
