by Diyana Chunga, Business Development Representative at Cipembele Exploration & Mining Services
In Zambia’s dynamic mining sector, a wholly Zambian-owned drilling company is making significant strides. ATL Drilling Ltd is transitioning to Cipembele Exploration & Mining Services—a rebranding that better reflects its expanding footprint and ambitious vision. Founded in 2013 and led by CEO Leroy Schultz, the company is demonstrating how local expertise can thrive in a space traditionally dominated by international players.
Cipembele Exploration & Mining Services Ltd is currently spearheading two mineral exploration projects under the ZCCM-IH portfolio. The first, located in Serenje in the Central Province, is known as the Kabundi Project, and is targeting copper and manganese deposits. This project is set to last about two months, ending in June 2025. The second project in Rufunsa, Eastern Province, focuses on gold exploration. It is set to last about three months and is now projected to end in June 2025.
Together, these projects cover over 5000 m (16 404 ft) of combined drilling and employ a total of 46 employees. These employees include site managers, drill supervisors, drillers, offsiders, core markers, drivers, chefs, camp attendants, boiler makers, mechanics, paramedics, safety officers, and local community helpers. In Serenje, Cipembele Exploration & Mining Services Ltd is drilling to depths of up to 700 m (2296 ft), while the Rufunsa project includes boreholes ranging from 40 to 200 m (131–656 ft). Both are currently in the exploration stages, and progress is well underway.
Zambia’s geology poses unique challenges, among which are variations in ground formations. In their explorations, Cipembele have encountered hard rock, broken formation, soft formation, clay, and sand. Both sites share similarly broken geological formations, making drilling unpredictable, with the team averaging between 9 to 45 m (30–148 ft) per shift, depending on how the ground holds. Common challenges include fractured rock, cavity zones, and water loss, all of which complicate core recovery and borehole stability.
To overcome these, Cipembele employs a combination of advanced rigs, all of which are transportable by land. At Kabundi, a multipurpose Sandvik UDR 650 is deployed, while the Rufunsa site uses a Lane Christensen CS 3001 diamond rig. The latter boasts impressive drilling depths, up to 2360 m (7743 ft) for BQ-sized core, with a pullback capacity of 15 tons. The team is also looking to add to these Hanjin D&B 30 HDD Drilling Rigs that are manufactured in the Republic of Korea. With the current equipment, the company is set to complete 2100 m (6890 ft) in Serenje and 3000 m (9843 ft) in Rufunsa.
Cipembele Exploration & Mining Services Ltd adapts drilling strategies based on ground conditions, switching between triple tube core barrels in fractured zones to standard barrels when formations stabilize. While they have not had to customize equipment locally, their operational flexibility ensures they stay efficient even in the toughest terrain. What sets Cipembele Exploration & Mining Services Ltd apart is its deep understanding of Zambia’s terrain and its ability to respond quickly thanks to strong regional relationships across the DRC, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Botswana. This enables them to source parts, expertise, and support rapidly, often within a day.
Technology is becoming a cornerstone of Cipembele’s workflow. The company has begun implementing CorePlan, a digital system for core logging and operational tracking. Looking ahead, they are keen to invest in modern telemetric systems to enable real-time borehole monitoring, which will vastly improve directional drilling accuracy and decision-making. Currently, directional drilling decisions rely on the driller’s expertise and ground feedback, but the goal is to transition to engine draw rigs equipped with full telemetry. Operating in remote areas brings logistical hurdles, including long travel times (up to eight hours) to the nearest support town. Cipembele mitigates this by stationing essential spare parts on site and maintaining a standby team to quickly respond to breakdowns.
Reliable communication is crucial, and thanks to Starlink connectivity, real-time collaboration with client geologists and technicians has improved drastically. Safety is also non-negotiable. Dedicated safety officers conduct daily inspections, and the company enforces rigorous protocols, including alcohol testing and fatigue checks. Environmentally, they manage water loss by increasing the supply to compensate for losses in fractured zones and work to minimize surface disturbance through precise drilling techniques.
Cipembele’s workforce combines local talent and experienced international personnel. While retaining staff is a challenge in the competitive mining sector, the company maintains a core management team while engaging contract crews as needed. And despite the difficulty of long-term skills development in such a fluid labor market, it remains committed to growing Zambian capacity.
One of Cipembele’s proudest achievements is its success in winning contracts with international heavyweights and also some of Zambia’s largest mining companies with a specific focus on copper and cobalt. Winning a contract with international mining companies is a testament to the quality and competitiveness of a local company in a global market. ‘We are the only wholly Zambian-owned exploration drilling company operating at this level,’ Schultz notes. Cipembele has won contracts with other international companies such as FQM, Midnight Sun, Moxico Resources, Arc Minerals.
As the company completes its rebrand, it remains focused on pushing boundaries in both geology and business. With proven experience in complex terrain, an adaptive mindset, and a commitment to innovation, Cipembele Exploration & Mining Services Ltd is redefining what it means to be a local leader in Africa’s mineral exploration landscape.
For more information visit: cipembele.com
