Sunhour Drilling Botswana | Exploration drilling for the African field

What we drill

Three methods, one crew

Every programme is scoped around the ground, the target depth and the sample quality your geologists need to sign off on a resource.

Diamond core drilling

High-precision coring for geological sampling and resource definition. We hold recovery through broken and altered ground, which is where core quality is usually won or lost.
Reverse circulation

Fast, repeatable metres for grade control and first-pass exploration. Sample splitting and cyclone discipline are set up to protect sample integrity from collar to bag.
Deep-hole exploration

Extended-depth capability for orebody delineation below 2,000m, with the rod handling, fluids management and crew experience that ultra-deep holes demand.

Beyond the hole

We deliver the whole programme

Most delays on a remote site have nothing to do with drilling. We fold infrastructure, logistics, water and compliance into the same contract so your team manages one interface instead of six.

Camp and infrastructureAccommodation, ablutions, power and water on site
Logistics and supplyFuel, consumables and mobilisation across the region
Water coordinationSite water sourcing and supply managed within the drilling scope
Environmental controlSump management, recycling and site rehabilitation

Aerial view of a fenced drill pad with the rig and crew at the centre, a water tank, ablutions and site vehicles around it

Fleet

Rigs on the ground

Owned, maintained and crewed in Botswana. Specifications below are as deployed, not as catalogued.

JY 600 Drilling Rig

Crawler mounted

Power: Yuchai 92kW Four-Cylinder
Head torque: 1,400 Nm at up to 1,400 rpm
Pullback: 240 kN lift, 120 kN feed
Wireline winch: 800m of 6mm rope at 110 m/min
Depth: 650m BTW, 600m NTW, 300m HTW

JX 1500 Drilling Rig

Crawler mounted

Power: Cummins diesel, 194kW on the 2.0 spec
Head torque: 1,800 Nm at up to 1,300 rpm
Pullback: 25t lift, 3.6m head stroke, 6.6m max
Rods: 76 to 122mm, 1.5 / 3 / 6m lengths
Depth: 1500m

Support fleet

Water tankers, compressors, generators, low-beds, workshop containers and light vehicles.

On site

The fleet at work

Filmed on an active programme by our own crew. Nothing staged, no stock footage.

Field footage

Plays without sound while it is on screen. Use the speaker to turn audio on.

Selected work

Globe Gold Project

Tati Greenstone Belt, Botswana. A 4,000m diamond core drilling campaign for Jacaranda Natural Resources.

2Drill Rigs
4,000 mProposed Programme
Diamond CoreDrilling Method
OngoingStatus

Sunhour crawler drill rig with its mast raised

Jacaranda Natural ResourcesTati Greenstone Belt

4,000m Diamond Core Drilling Campaign

A systematic diamond core drilling programme targeting gold mineralisation within the Tati Greenstone Belt. The programme is designed to test priority geological targets, establish geological continuity and advance the project's exploration programme through high-quality core drilling.

The programme

Jacaranda Natural Resources engaged Sunhour Drilling Botswana to execute a multi-rig diamond core drilling programme within the Tati Greenstone Belt. The campaign is focused on systematic target testing and geological evaluation, with drilling planned across priority targets identified through the project's exploration model. The programme requires controlled drilling, consistent core recovery and disciplined drill-site execution across multiple holes.

What we are doing

Sunhour has mobilised two diamond core drill rigs to support the programme, executed to provide the geological team with representative core for logging, sampling, structural interpretation and further evaluation of the mineralised system.

Diamond core drilling
Drill-site mobilisation and establishment
Angled drilling
Core recovery and handling
Core orientation where required
Drill-hole execution against planned depths
Rig moves and drill-site logistics
Ongoing programme support

TBADrilled to date
4,000 mProposed Phase 1 metreage
2Diamond core rigs deployed
Tati Greenstone BeltBotswana

The objective

Systematic target testing

The objective of the campaign is to systematically test priority targets and generate high-quality geological information to support the next stage of exploration.

Geological continuity
Mineralised zone geometry
Structural controls
Down-dip and along-strike extensions
Intersections required for ongoing exploration evaluation

Crew members working together at the rig

Core quality matters

Continuous core through the target intervals

Diamond drilling provides the geological team with continuous core through the target intervals. Sunhour's drilling approach prioritises:

Core recovery

Maintaining representative sample recovery through fractured, altered and mineralised ground.
Core integrity

Using appropriate coring systems and drilling practices to preserve the geological record.
Core orientation

Supporting structural interpretation where orientation is required.
Drilling control

Maintaining planned hole orientation, depth and drilling discipline throughout the campaign.

Programme execution

A multi-rig campaign requires more than metres drilled

Sunhour's field team manages the operational requirements necessary to maintain drilling continuity across the programme, including rig mobilisation, drill-site moves, equipment support, water coordination, consumables and field logistics.

The focus is simple:

Keep the rigs turning. Protect the core. Deliver the metres.

Current status

Ongoing

The 4,000m Phase 1 diamond core drilling campaign is currently underway.

Drilling results and geological interpretations remain the responsibility of the project's technical team and will be reported by the project owner as appropriate.

Similar programme? Let's talk.

Discuss your drilling requirements

Sunhour site foreman in a hard hat, sun brim and hi-vis beside the SDB-101 rig

Health, safety and environment

Everyone goes home

Exploration drilling is rotating steel, high pressure and remote ground. Our systems are built so that the safe way to do a job is also the fastest way.

Risk assessed before the shift, not after

Every crew runs a job hazard analysis at the rig before work starts, and again whenever conditions change.
Hands away from the rods

Automated rod handling on the fleet removes the manual handling that causes most drilling injuries.
Fatigue managed on remote rosters

Rosters, travel and camp conditions are planned around fatigue rather than left to the crew to absorb.
The site is left as we found it

Sump management, fluid recycling and rehabilitation are part of the scope, not an afterthought at demob.

Our team

The people behind the programme

Geology, engineering, finance and legal capability held in-house, so decisions on your programme get made quickly.

Leadership

Founder and Chairman

Kago B. Stimela

Entrepreneur and project leader with over 15 years across engineering, security and resources. Leads strategic direction, partnerships and growth.
CXO & Partner

Khumo Dikupa

Exploration geologist with over 20 years across Southern Africa. Leads exploration strategy, drilling programmes and resource development across multiple commodities.
COO & Partner

Kevin P. Moipolai

Project and logistics professional with 10 years in operations and supply chain, driving execution and operational efficiency across sites.
Site Foreman

Tuelo Stimela

Runs the site day to day, coordinating crews, shifts, rig moves and safety so the programme keeps moving on the ground.

Technical & support

Senior Geologist (Copper)

Molaodi Ntuane

Leads the geology on copper programmes, from hole planning and core logging through to sampling and data quality on site.
Exploration Geologist

Nnete Ngwato

Logs and samples core on exploration programmes and keeps geological data accurate and up to date on site.
Logistics, HR & Procurement Officer

Pelontle Maruping

Keeps sites supplied and staffed, handling procurement, stores, logistics, HR and administration behind every programme.

Drilling operations

Drilling Supervisor

Uyapo Matilangana

Oversees drilling activity across the rigs, coordinating crews, shift planning and hole progress against the programme, and holding drilling standards on site.
Rig Operator

Letsweletse Sedimo

Runs the rig on site and leads the drilling crew, covering setup, hole positioning, daily production and equipment care.
Rig Mechanic

Mora Mora

Keeps the fleet turning through rig maintenance and on-site repairs, handling breakdowns in the field so drilling continuity is protected.
Core Marker

Gilbert Kehakgametse

Marks and boxes core at the rig, recording depths and runs so every tray reaches the geologist complete and in order.
Drilling Assistant

Gasemathata Makaita

Supports rig operations through rod handling, fluid mixing and site preparation, keeping the hole turning through each shift.
Drilling Assistant

Gofaone Ntsime

Works the rig floor with the drilling crew, handling rods, mixing fluids and keeping the pad safe and tidy through each shift.

Field crew

Core Marker / Field Assistant

Stephen Kiwani

Marks core at the rig and supports the field team with site preparation, sample handling and day-to-day logistics.
Field Assistant

Jason Stimela

Supports the field team with site preparation, water and fuel runs, sample transport and general camp duties.
Field Assistant

Pako Stimela

Assists on site with rig moves, pad preparation, core transport and day-to-day field logistics.