Asciano has secured a $320 million contract with Middlemount Coal for the next ten years. This will be for moving as much as 3 million tons of coal per annum in Queensland from January 2012 onwards. Middlemount Coal is a joint venture between Macathur Coal and Nobel Group.
The managing director and chief executive officer of Asciano Mark Rowsthorn saw this as a significant step in the company's growth strategy to demonstrate their ability to meet customer needs in Queensland. The operation will be via the Northern Missing Link railway line to Abbot Point.
The impending privatization of the Queensland Rail going to Abbot Point will not be affected by Asciano getting the contract. The missing link from Dalrymple Bay to Abbot Point will give coal mining companies a choice between ports.
Asciano is also contracted to carry Rio Tinto's coal from German Creek mine to Dalrymple Bay. The company is also looking forward to the new contracts from mines in central Queensland. It sees itself well placed to meet with such demands.