The contract, with the Isaac Plains Coal Management joint venture company, includes a range of contract mining services, Leighton Holdings chief executive officer Hamish Tyrwhitt said.

“The range of mining services covered in this contract reflects the diversity of the Leighton Group’s skills in the resources sector,” he said.

“Leighton Contractors’ expertise in coal, and its history of more than three decades servicing the Australian mining sector, has enabled it to hone efficiencies and incorporate the use of technologies that improve cost structures for our clients.”

The contract for Isaac Plains, 7km east of Moranbah, involves all stripping, drilling, overburden removal, pit dewatering and coaling operations.

The scope includes provision for all statutory roles, the implementation of the site’s Safety and Health Management System and operation of the mine’s dragline (a BE 1370 DC drive electric dragline with a 49 cubic metre bucket).

Mine planning is supplied by the principal on a rolling monthly basis and sets the coaling schedule for the next month.

Approximately 237 people work at Isaac Plains.

The mine has an expected production capacity of 2.8 million tones and the scope includes 514km of drilling and over 34 Mbcm blasted.

Leighton’s dozer fleet will move 5Mbcm and the dragline is expected to move 14Mbcm including rehandle. The truck and excavator fleets will move the remainder of overburden and coal.

Leighton Contractors managing director Craig Laslett said the contract award reflected Leighton Contractors’ track record and its continued delivery of generational expertise, value, and cost-effective solutions for clients.

“This announcement is further testament of our ability to partner with our clients in developing innovative and efficient operating frameworks that ensure positive cost structure outcomes, as well as excellence in performance,” he said.