The contract is for the continuation of operations at Sonoma and Drake mines from 1 January 2016. The agreement includes an option for an additional one year contract extension.

Parent company CIMIC executive chairman Marcelino Fernández Verdes said: “The contract reinforces QCoal’s confidence in Thiess’ ability to continuing to deliver value solutions to the mining operations at the Northern Hub.”

Thiess has a long history in the Collinsville area, having operated the nearby Collinsville Coal Mine from 1996 to 2013, and now at Sonoma and the Northern Hub, where it has been since 2007.

Thiess managing director Michael Wright said: “We have a long association with the QCoal Group going back to the start of the mine in 2007. Following the successful integration of the CIMIC Group’s mining businesses into Thiess Global Mining, we continue to provide increased knowledge and experience to the benefit of our client.

“We are also pleased to continue our association with the Collinsville community, with this contract award securing employment for our locally‐based, long‐term people.”