Angola has signed an agreement with the U. S. General Electric to buy 100 locomotives and get technical assistance for its national airliner TAAG from the U. S. firm, the official news agency Angop reported on Friday.

The deal was signed in Lobito of the central Bengela province on Thursday by Director of the Office of Studies, Planning and Statistics of the Angolan Transport Ministry Teresa Muro and President and CEO of GE Transportation Lorenzo Simonelli.

The deal becomes immediately effective and provides for the purchase and technical assistance of 100 locomotives and to repair and service TAAG aircraft engines manufactured by GE, Angop said.

Teresa Muro told reporters that the purchase and maintenance of the locomotives was important in view of the challenges facing Lobito Development Corridor that will link Angola to the neighboring DR Congo and Zambia through the 1,337-km Benguela Railway, to facilitate the flow of minerals and other goods.

For his part, Lorenzo Simonelli said the accord will be implemented in several years and its cost is still to be established.

He claimed the locomotives are of the type five, much advanced, incorporate environmental needs and are adapted to the African continent. Endi

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