OREANDA-NEWS Deliveries of Chinese electric locomotives to Belarus, which were supposed to take place last year, have been postponed for several years. This is indicated by the portal "Community of Railway Workers of Belarus" with reference to the relevant documents.

The contract between the Belarusian Railway (BDZ) and China National Electric Import & Export Corp. (CUEC) and CRRC Datong Co., Ltd (CRRC) provided for the sale of 15 single-section AC electric locomotives of the BKG2 series.

Western sanctions have become a problem, since European and American components are used in this series. The author of the material emphasizes that the financial issue is not a problem, the Chinese partners are ready to provide a loan, but the threat of exporting prohibited equipment to Belarus makes them nervous.

There is no question of a final refusal, the parties are looking for ways to carry out the delivery. In January 2024, a delegation from BDZ visited the CRRC plant, and in March, the manufacturer announced the need to postpone the deadline for deeper study and localization of components and components.

However, as noted in the message, the Chinese took their own HXD2 series car as the basis for the BKG series — a joint development with the French Alstom. Almost all high-tech equipment for BKG-1 and BKG-2 is imported, supplies are carried out from France, Canada, Sweden, the USA and Germany. Without them, in the current conditions, the production of electric locomotives of this series by China alone is impossible.

As a result, the plan for the renewal of the BDZ rolling stock fleet provides for the purchase of freight single-section electric locomotives BKG-2 already in 2025-2026.

Earlier, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko admitted that industrial production in the country is growing, but the output of a large number of goods is falling, and the price and quality of products are inferior to competitors.