Bounty lost these two contracts in the first half of 2009 as the collieries closed down during the rougher coal markets of the time.

The lost earnings later put Bounty into voluntary administration.

But coal markets have improved markedly since this time and Bounty has emerged from the VA process and is firmly on the path of recovery.

The contractor said there is an option to extend its contract for the two collieries for another one-year period.

“We are delighted to resume our relationship with Anglo American,” Bounty chairman Gary Cochrane said.

Bounty will provide the services to reopen and operate the Aquila mine where it operated previously for four years.

“The mining services will include re-establishing the mine and undertaking both development and bord and pillar production at the mine for the next 2 years,” the contractor said.

“Bounty has been providing some minor services with a small maintenance crew, but this will be expanded to a full 7 day operation over the next 3 months.

“Bounty will reintroduce the continuous haulage unit back into the Aquila mine for both development and production phases at the mine over the next 2 years.”

Bord and pillar production at the Bundoora Mine will start from January 2011 to extract the remnant coking coal and maximise resource recovery for AAMC.

“This will utilise Anglo American mining equipment to extract over 750,000 tonnes of coal over an 18-month period,” Bounty said.

“This represents a substantial contract for the company and re-establishes a long term relationship with Anglo American.”

Bounty shares were unchanged at 2.5c this morning.