Ex-Im Bank Approves $1000 Million in Financing for Sale of GE Locomotives to South Africa's Transnet

The jobs of some 600 employees at GE Transportation's facilities in Pennsylvania and its suppliers around the country are being supported by the company's sale of locomotives to South Africa's Transnet, Limited.   The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has approved a loan guarantee in excess of $1000 million as part of the sale.

The Bank has also approved a preliminary commitment for over $200 million for purchases of additional locomotives by Transnet.  Ex-Im Bank financing will support a partnership between GE Transportation, Transnet and Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE).

GE Transportation said the contract with Transnet will create or sustain over 600 jobs at GE's factories in Erie and Grove City, Pa. and at GE suppliers around the United States.

"Ex-Im Bank financing for Transnet, the first of what we hope will be many more to come, is a win-win for both South Africa and the United States.  This sale ensures high skill, high wage jobs will remain here in the U.S., and it strengthens the commercial ties between our two countries," said Fred P. Hochberg, chairman and president of Ex-Im Bank.

Ten fully-assembled GE Model C30ACi locomotives and U.S.-manufactured components for high- value locomotive kits will be shipped from GE's Erie, Pa. manufacturing facility to TRE in South Africa.  The first two assembled locomotives from Erie were introduced to the public last Monday during a trackside ceremony in Pretoria, South Africa.  GE reports that three C30ACi locomotives can haul the same amount of freight as four older locomotives and save approximately 600,000 liters of fuel a year while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

"The GE-Transnet-Ex-Im Bank partnership is a significant investment in job development, economic advancement and infrastructure grown on both sides of the Atlantic," said Lorenzo Simonelli, president and CEO of GE Transportation.

 

This article was originally posted on Africa Banking Network

Are you interested in Market Research, Recruitment and Business Leads?

Join the Africa Business Panel, powered by Africa Business Communities.

www.africabusinesspanel.com.