Gazprom, OJC Russian railways and the Government of Sverdlovskaya Oblast adopted a program of test operation of gas powered locomotives

Alexey Miller, Chairman of Gazprom's Management Committee, Gennady Fadeev, President of the Russian Railways Open Joint Stock Company, and Eduard Rossel, Governor of Sverdlovskaya Oblast, signed a joint Program on setting up test operation of liquefied and compressed natural gas powered locomotives at the Sverdlovsk railway test grounds. The Program is aimed at constructing experimental main-line and yard locomotives powered by natural gas, and conducting their field tests.

According to the Program, gas powered locomotives will be based on the existing types of locomotives. They will be operated at the section of railways not equipped with electricity supply lines, where diesel powered locomotives are currently used. The Program identifies the most promising sections of railways for operating gas powered locomotives: Tymen – Surgut – Korotchayevo – Nizhnevatorsk (Sverdlovsk railway), Korotchayevo – Novii Urengoi – Yamburg – Nadim (Yamal railway), Obskaya – Bovanenkovo (Northern railway).

It is noted in the document that natural gas utilization as motor fuel in locomotives gives considerable positive economic and ecological effect. Besides the cost saving of 40% to 45% (gas opposed to diesel fuel), fuel consumption is down by 7% to 10%, and emissions are down by 1.5–2 times. The overall emissions' toxicity is down 3 to 5 times compared to diesel fuel.

The cost of LNG for testing operations will be around US$ 120 per 1,000 cubic meters.

Gazprom's part in the Program's implementation will be constructing of receiving, storage and delivery units for liquefied methane based on Lentransgaz's technology. The Program's implementation will enable Gazprom to have cost savings for cargo deliveries to its production companies.

Information Directorate, OAO Gazprom