OREANDA-NEWS. June 15, 2010. Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin is on a working visit to Libya. He took part in the inauguration of a rail welding plant in the village of Ras Lanuf. The new plant is part of a contract awarded to Russian Railways for the construction of a railway line between Sirte and Benghazi, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

The Ras Lanuf welding plant is a complete facility consisting of administrative and industrial premises and recreation facilities. The plant has a planned production capacity is 500 km of track per annum, with a maximum capacity of 700 km per annum.

"The welding plant in Ras Lanufe will become a key element in creating and developing Libya’s rail infrastructure. The plant should operate for ten years, giving Libya the ability to create not only its own rail network in a fairly short time, but also play a central role in railways in North Africa. Russian Railways is carrying out the contract very responsibly, which underlines our Company’s long-established reputation as a reliable and successful partner," said Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin at the opening ceremony.

Pskovelektrosvar, a world leader in the design and manufacture of welding equipment for railways, designed and built the new plant in Libya on a turnkey basis.

The technology of long rail sections made at the plant enables products to be manufactured which are in strict accordance with existing Russian and world standards. This technology is certified by DVS ZERT - the German certification agency for management systems and products.

The equipment used on the plant’s production lines was designed and manufactured using the latest advances in scientific thinking and modern materials and components. Systems management of individual operations and of the plant as a whole allows real-time management and control of the entire technological process, while largely eliminating the human factor. The plant has also implemented a system of automatic quality control on the main technological operations and certification of each welded rail section.

Training up Libyans for further work on this high-tech equipment will be done jointly by the Russian Welding Institute and the centre Professional.

Construction of the plant will enable the full range of scheduled work on the track laying to be done both on time and to high standards. Welding the rails at the factory will mean that all processes can be carried out exactly, and with the plant close to the actual construction, the all the work will be complete according to plan.

Vladimir Yakunin will attend the opening ceremony LIREX 2010 in Tripoli, which will be the first international rail exhibition and conference to be held in Libya. The main focus of the exhibition will be the development of technologies for the railway industry, transport management systems and management systems for trains and carriages, the planning of rail interchanges, power plants, automatic control systems and computer solutions, the planning and construction of railway lines, design of train units, safety and security systems, warning systems, the design and construction of passenger stations and freight terminals and servicing passengers.

The event will bring together representatives of railway administrations and companies from Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Turkey, China, South Korea, the USA, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries.

Vladimir Yakunin’s visit and the opening of the welding plant follow from the signing of a contract for EUR2.2. billion on 17 April 2008 between Libya’s Office for the Organisation and Implementation of Rail Projects and Russian Railways after the Company won a tender for the construction of the railway line between Sirte and Benghazi after offering the best project in terms of value for money.

The project includes the construction of a modern high-speed railway line with a 1435 mm gauge between Sirt and Benghazi, which runs along the Mediterranean coast and connects Libya’s major cities and in the future will be part of an international transport corridor in North Africa. Initially, during the first phase of the project, trains will travel at up to 160 kmph, rising to up to 250 kmph during the second phase of the project and electrification.

The project involves the construction of more than 1,000 structures, 30 rail and 23 road overpasses, as well as 6 major railway stations and 24 passenger, cargo and freight stations. About 3,500 construction workers, including 289 engineers, will be employed and more than 1,734 pieces of equipment used, including heavy machinery and specialised track equipment.