Minsk Tractor Factory plans to set up gas-powered tractor production in Tatarstan

UFA. June 29 (Interfax) - The Minsk Tractor Factory (MTZ), Tatarstan's RariTEK Engineering (part of RariTEK Holding) and Gazprom Transgas Ufa have signed a contract for the expansion of production of gas-powered machinery in Tatarstan, including tractors.

A Letter of Intent was signed during the Tenth Regions of Russia and Belarus Forum, Transgas-Ufa's press service said.

It was reported earlier that MTZ intended to set up the production of its own gas engines for tractors at the site of its MTZ-Tatarstan Trade and Production Company subsidiary.

At present, MTZ-Tatarstan and RariTEK are completing the development of an engine. The basic design of the piston engine makes it possible to implement a power-based line of engines starting at 100 kW for various uses: in automobiles, tractors, construction, and agricultural and stationary motors for generating stations. The gas engines will be manufactured at MTZ-Tatarstan's facilities in the Yelabuga region.

In 2022, RariTEK developed a gas engine version of the MTZ Belarus 2022.3 MMZ-262 tractor on a CNG/LNG fuel system for agricultural use.

The MTZ-Tatarstan Trade and Production company is an exclusive Russian distributor of the Minsk Tractor Plant and produces tractors under the Belarus brand in Tatarstan, the company's website says.

RariTEK Holding is a trade and industrial association, the enterprises included in its structure are engaged in the production and supply of vehicles running on natural gas (compressed / liquefied), original spare parts, personnel training, service maintenance, development of gas filling infrastructure, as well as re-equipment of existing fleets of vehicles. RariTEK Engineering is an official distributor of the Ural automobile plant's commercial division, and sells road construction equipment, mobile gas tankers and cryogenic mobile gas tankers.