1 unitJY 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
Sunhour Drilling Botswana
Exploration drilling, built for the African field.
Sunhour Drilling Botswana delivers Diamond Core, Reverse Circulation and Deep-hole Drilling Programmes for mineral exploration and resource development across Botswana and Southern Africa.
- Diamond Core
- RC Drilling
- Deep-Hole
- Field Support
- 0Deepest hole drilled
- 0Core recovery
- 0Longest campaign
- 0Rigs deployed
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Fleet
Rigs on the ground
Owned, maintained and crewed in Botswana. Specifications below are as deployed, not as catalogued.
1 unit
1 unitJX 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.
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
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
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:
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Core recovery
Maintaining representative sample recovery through fractured, altered and mineralised ground.
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Core integrity
Using appropriate coring systems and drilling practices to preserve the geological record.
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Core orientation
Supporting structural interpretation where orientation is required.
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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
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.
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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.
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Hands away from the rods
Automated rod handling on the fleet removes the manual handling that causes most drilling injuries.
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Fatigue managed on remote rosters
Rosters, travel and camp conditions are planned around fatigue rather than left to the crew to absorb.
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The site is left as we found it
Sump management, fluid recycling and rehabilitation are part of the scope, not an afterthought at demob.
Leadership
The people behind the programme
Geology, engineering, finance and legal capability held in-house, so decisions on your programme get made quickly.
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Founder and Chairman
Mr Kago B. Stimela
Entrepreneur and project leader with over 15 years across engineering, security and resources. Leads strategic direction, partnerships and growth.
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CEO & Partner
Mr Khumoetsile Dikupa
Exploration geologist with over 20 years across Southern Africa. Leads exploration strategy, drilling programmes and resource development across multiple commodities.
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COO & Partner
Kevin P. Moipolai
Project and logistics professional with 10 years in operations and supply chain, driving execution and operational efficiency across sites.
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Drilling Supervisor
Tuelo Stimela
Oversees drilling activity across the rigs, coordinating crews, shift planning and hole progress against the programme, and holding drilling standards on site.
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Rig Operator
Thabo Thabiwe
Runs the rig on site and leads the drilling crew, covering setup, hole positioning, daily production and equipment care.
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Boilermaker / Mechanic
Jones Magosi
Keeps the fleet turning through rig maintenance, fabrication and on-site repairs, handling breakdowns in the field so drilling continuity is protected.
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Core Marker
Shima Moremi
Handles core at the rig, marking depths, orienting runs and boxing samples so recovery reaches the geologist intact and in sequence.
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Drilling Assistant
Gasemathata Makaita
Supports rig operations through rod handling, fluid mixing and site preparation, keeping the hole turning through each shift.
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Drilling Assistant
Yekelani Khohli
Assists with rod running, casing, water supply and housekeeping around the rig, and supports core handling during recovery.
Gallery
From the drill pad
Rigs, crews and core from active programmes across Botswana.
Updates
Latest from Sunhour
Sunhour Drilling secures Globe Gold drilling campaign
Appointed to a 4,000m diamond core drilling programme in the Tati Greenstone Belt.
Sunhour Drilling Botswana has been appointed to undertake a 4,000m diamond core drilling programme for the Globe Gold Project in Botswana's Tati Greenstone Belt.
The campaign will deploy Sunhour's diamond core drilling capability to support systematic geological investigation, target definition and resource evaluation across the project area.
Globe Gold drilling campaign mobilises
Equipment, crew and field support being prepared for deployment to site.
Sunhour Drilling has commenced mobilisation for the Globe Gold drilling campaign, with drilling equipment, crew and field support being prepared for deployment.
The programme is designed around controlled drilling, high-quality core recovery and reliable sample production to support the client's geological and exploration objectives.
Sunhour expands exploration drilling capability
Building a specialist platform across diamond core, RC and deep-hole drilling.
Sunhour Drilling Botswana is building a specialist exploration drilling platform focused on diamond core, reverse circulation and deep-hole drilling.
Our operating model combines fit-for-purpose drill rigs, experienced field crews and supporting equipment to deliver drilling programmes efficiently in Botswana's remote and demanding exploration environments.
Get in touch
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