South African President Jacob Zuma boards a newly completed locomotive for a trial ride (All photos by Li Jianguo)

(L-R) CSR South Africa Manager Wang Guojun, South African President Jacob Zuma, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Tian Xuejun and CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive President Zhou Qinghe

Workers on the Transnet production line celebrate the project completion

The 95th locomotive rolls off the production line 

An electric locomotive with the serial number "20 095" rolled off the production line at Transnet Freight Rail's manufacturing and engineering facility in Koedoespoort, Pretoria, South Africa, on March 20, 2015. This signifies the successful completion of the production of 95 electric locomotives Transnet bought from China South Rail (CSR) Zhuzhou Electric Locomotives, the majority of which were built in its factory in Koedoespoort, in an agreement concluded in 2012.

In terms of the agreement, 10 locomotives were built at CSR's factory in China and the remaining 85 at Koedoespoort.

The acquisition of 95 electric locomotives is part of Transnet's long-term fleet renewal program aimed at increasing volume while reducing the average age of its locomotive fleet. The program is designed to reinforce Transnet Freight Rail's plans to grow its freight volume from the current 210 million tons to over 350 million tons in seven years.

At the celebration ceremony, South African President Jacob Zuma said, "It is also encouraging that of the total 2.7 billion rand ($245 million) contract value of this transaction, at least 65 percent, or 1.7 billion ($141.5 million) was committed to local supplier development."

He said that South Africa's strategic partnership with China has also provided great learning opportunities for South Africa, particularly in terms of optimal utilization of resources, technological advancement and skills transfer being distinctive benefits.

In this project, 190 South Africans were trained in China and 260 were employed in the assembly plant.