The contract is worth approximately A$100 million (US$71 million).

Mark Norwell, managing director of Ausdrill, said: "This continuation of services at Rampura Agucha is further endorsement of the Barminco acquisition and the professional service our businesses have been providing to our customers."

Barminco has operated at the Rampura Agucha mine for Hindustan Zinc, a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, since late 2016. The new underground mining services contract is for a three-and-a-half year term, subject to review and mutual agreement of rates after the first year.

The scope of work includes the extension of development works that were being provided under a recently completed contract, plus the addition of production work in the Barminco-developed area of the mine.

Under the contract, Hindustan Zinc will provide capital equipment and consumables. Barminco will commence work immediately.

Paul Muller, CEO of Barminco, commented: "We are very pleased to have been awarded a contract that extends our operations at the Rampura Agucha mine with an expanded scope to include production works. We look forward to deepening the relationship we have built with Hindustan Zinc over the past few years by delivering on this extended scope of works both safely and efficiently."