Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX: LEI) says its Thiess Sedgman joint venture has been awarded a $145 million contract to expand the Coal Handling and Preparation Plant at Lake Vermont coal mine near Dysart in central Queensland.

The contract is to design, procure, construct and commission an expansion of the Coal Handling and Preparation Plant on behalf of Lake Vermont Resources Pty Ltd.

The upgraded plant is required to produce up to 4 million tonnes of additional product coal per annum. The project is expected to generate up to 200 new jobs at its peak.

Thiess Managing Director David Saxelby said the contract reaffirms Thiess Sedgman’s long standing record in designing, building and commissioning coal preparation plants.

“We are building on our 20 year history and moving forward as a clear market leader,” Mr Saxelby said.

Thiess Sedgman designed and constructed the original Lake Vermont Coal Handling and Preparation Plant which was commissioned in March 2009. The project team completed the project on time and met all client requirements despite encountering wet weather delays.

Sedgman Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Nick Jukes said Sedgman was very pleased to secure the new contract and looks forward to working within the Thiess Sedgman
Joint Venture to deliver another successful outcome for the client.

“We look forward to building on our past successes at the Lake Vermont mine with the execution of a project that is on time, on budget, and achieves all our client’s objectives,” Mr Jukes said.