Vale to acquire 3 Wabtec locomotives for railroad in Brazil

Vale yesterday announced it will order three of Wabtec Corp.'s FLXdrive battery locomotives as part of the global mining company’s efforts to decarbonize its rail operations.

Brazil-based Vale’s agreement also includes a project to test ammonia as a potential alternative fuel for diesel, Vale and Wabtec officials said in a press release.

The three 100% battery-powered FLXdrive locomotives will be used on the Carajas Railroad (EFC) in Brazil, which runs an iron ore train consisting of 330 rail cars transporting 45,000 tons.

Currently, three to four diesel locomotives pull the train. Once delivered, the FLXdrives will join the diesel locomotives to form Brazil’s first hybrid consist pulling the train uphill for 87 miles in the state of Maranhao, where fuel consumption is the highest. The FLXdrives will replace the two diesel locomotives used to pull the train uphill today, Vale and Wabtec officials said.

Wabtec will build the FLXdrive locomotives at its Contagem plant in Brazil. Delivery is slated for 2026.

The two companies will study the use of ammonia as a clean alternative fuel that would not emit carbon dioxide. Initially, the study will be carried out as lab tests to validate performance, emission reductions and feasibility.

"Initially, we are maximizing energy efficiency, replacing the diesel locomotives in the dynamic helper with battery ones. But the idea is that in the future, the other locomotives on the train can be fueled by ammonia," said Vale Director of Energy Ludmila Nascimento. "This way, we would have a clean operation at EFC."

Vale's agreement with Wabtec is "the first of many that we are seeking in order to accelerate the decarbonization of our railway operation," she added.