While chasing each other the rumors about the interest of Siemens for Ansaldo Sts, the Finmeccanica group company broadens its horizons by signing two contracts in Australia. Total value: 289 million euros.
In particular, through the subsidiary Ansaldo Sts Australia, the Italian company was awarded a contract worth around 253 million for the development and supply of an automated train management system. The affected railway network, 1.500 kilometers long, is intended for the heavy transport of iron ore from Rio Tinto Iron Ore, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The infrastructure, which will be completed in 2015, "will be the first of its kind in the world and will significantly increase the flexibility and capacity of the Rio Tinto Iron Ore mining railway network", reads a statement from Ansaldo.
The second contract, the value of which is approximately 36 million euros, relates instead to the framework agreement with Rio Tinto Iron Ore and provides for interventions on the control systems of Rio Tinto's locomotives. With the new contract, the Italian company "will complete the process of upgrading Rio Tinto's locomotive control systems so that the network is able to support the introduction of the ECP (Electronically controlled pneumatic) braking system".
Ansaldo STS will then complete the installation and integration of the ECP system on Rio Tinto's fleet of heavy haulage locomotives.
“These important contracts – concludes the Finmeccanica group company – are the latest in a series of Rio Tinto Iron Ore heavy mining transport projects awarded to Ansaldo Sts Australia following the stipulation in November 2010 of the framework agreement between Ansaldo Sts and Rio Tinto Iron Hours".
At the end of the morning, the Ansaldo Sts share on the Stock Exchange moved into slightly positive territory, gaining 0,25%.
