The Council for Geoscience reinforces its drilling capacity

In March 2026, the Council for Geoscience (CGS) expanded its strategic scientific asset base through the acquisition of a diamond core drill rig named “Green Mamba”, which symbolises strength, accuracy and resilience in uncovering valuable geological information.

The Green Mamba will enhance the CGS’ existing drilling capacity in support of its technical programmes. This investment not only strengthens operational capability but reinforces the credibility of the CGS’ geoscientific knowledge base.

This expansion of the drilling fleet is aligned to the CGS’ strategic direction to invest in asset recapitalisation with the primary aim to improve efficacy and optimal delivery to its mandate. With a strengthened internal environment and improved capacity, the organisation is well positioned to deliver impactful geoscientific outputs.

Accordingly, the drill rig will strengthen the understanding of geological conditions through fundamental geoscience research, while strengthening geotechnical and groundwater assessments to deliver objective, evidence-based responses to societal challenges.

The acquisition comes at a critical time when the exploration is gaining momentum in South Africa, with projects advancing exponentially and yielding desirable results from the Junior Mining Exploration Fund.

The drill rig is a crawler-mounted, hydraulically operated unit with the capability to drill to a maximum depth of 2.7 kilometres, significantly enhancing our understanding of geology.

Resultantly, the rig will accelerate drilling activities to support the fundamental geoscientific research and mineral exploration, underpinning robust mineral resources assessment and informed economic value and scientific decision-making.

As part of ensuring optimal utilisation of the drill rig, the supplier is providing specialised technical training to the CGS ‘A-team’ of drillers to strengthen operational and institutional capacity. The training is being undertaken at a site in Giyani, Limpopo to further refine regional integrated mapping that the CGS completed in 2021, with the support of the local community and other critical stakeholders.

Mobilisation commenced in April 2026 and is progressing well, with encouraging results from the preliminary geoscience assessment.

The CGS will continue to apply this strategic asset together with the the drilling community in the country in implementing its geoscientific programmes and initiatives in the future, for the advancement of national socio-economic imperatives.