Thiess will operate the Ravenswood East mine next to the Mt Owen mine, where it has worked since 1996.
Thiess' Rob Stewart said the new contract strengthened a long-term relationship with HVCC and its parent Xstrata. It also built on last month's $156 million contract win at Excel Coal's greenfields Wilpinjong mine in NSW.
"We will continue to work closely with HVCC and Xstrata, to explore ways to build further value into all of their mining operations," Stewart said. "The award of the Ravensworth East mine to Thiess is a clear outcome of this process, adding value to both our organisations."
Under the deal, Thiess will handle the mining, coal beneficiation, stockpiling and loading of coal for both domestic and export markets. The initial three-year contract could run for up to 10 years depending on future supply contracts with Macquarie Generation.
Production is expected to start at 1.2 million tonnes per annum, with 600,000tpa contracted to Macquarie Generation and the remainder to be sold on the export market.
