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Who we are

Our history

If there’s drilling happening, there’s a good chance we’re a part of it. Starting as a South African Raise Boring specialist, Master Drilling is now a global leader in drilling technology, active in over 29 countries.

From one mine in South Africa to global leader

Master Drilling, founded by Daniël (Danie) Pretorius in South Africa, secured its first contract at the Elandsrand mine in Gauteng. A breakthrough came with the in-house development of a cost-effective drilling solution for the Cullinan Mine, leading to early success. We then expanded into South America and now operate around the world. In 2012, we were listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, solidifying our position as a global leader in drilling technology.

Jump to:
1980s-1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s

1980s-1990s

The image shows the logo of Master Drilling, featuring a stylized white letter "M" with three downward-pointing extensions. The background is divided into two sections: blue at the top and dark gray at the bottom. "MASTER DRILLING" is written below the "M.

1986

Master Drilling established
Close-up image of a golden palm-leaf motif with intricate beaded details on a stone background. The design features a series of fan-like ribs adorned with small, evenly spaced beads, converging at a central point.

1986

Designed and manufactured the RD1000 for Premier Diamond mine
A rocky quarry with a backdrop of a large rock wall. The ground is covered in gravel and there are several construction materials and equipment scattered around, including barrels, a truck, and a portable office unit. The area appears to be an active work site.

1992

Began drilling operations at the Shabanie mine in Zimbabwe

A spiraled rock formation creates the illusion of a deep, narrowing tunnel. The rock layers are curved and textured, with varying shades of brown and gray. The center appears dark, leading to a vanishing point, emphasizing the tunnel's depth.

1993

Commenced drilling at Barrick Group’s El Indio mine in Chile

Close-up of a large, cylindrical industrial component with threaded ends and patterned grooves on the outer surface. The object appears to be a section of heavy-duty piping or machinery, with additional similar components in the background.

1998

Commenced drilling at Milpo’s El Porvenir mine in Peru

2000s

A large hydraulic press machine with white upper and gray lower parts is positioned indoors near a blue vertical storage tank. The press features the distinctive logo of its manufacturer on its front panel. The background shows a workshop area.

2000

Commenced drilling at AngloGold Ashanti’s Cuiaba mine in Brazil
Introduced the BHB 200, our first self-engineered low-profile raise bore and blind hole machine, at East Driefontein mine
Miners work inside an underground mine with heavy machinery and equipment. The environment is rocky, with a large drill and conveyor system visible. Cables run along the walls and ceiling, and a few workers are engaged in various tasks.

2001

Acquired first Wirth HG380 rig

A deep, cylindrical tunnel with a concrete, segmented interior and descending metal ladder on the right side. Electric lights are spaced evenly along the tunnel, illuminating the interior walls and creating a vanishing point effect as the tunnel stretches into darkness.

2003

Entered the market in large-diameter holes
Two workers in red shirts, black pants, and safety helmets and gear are handling a large cylindrical pipe on a worksite. The background shows a porta-potty, a white trailer, and other equipment and materials. The setting appears to be an industrial or construction area.

2005

Commenced drilling at Peñoles Group’s Tizapa mine in Mexico
Obtained ISO 9001:2000 accreditation in South Africa
A large industrial machine with metal hoses and components stands on rocky terrain in a barren, desert-like landscape. In the distance, there is a flat horizon under a pastel-colored sky at dawn or dusk. Sparse bushes and rocks are scattered across the scene.

2006

Acquired Drillcorp Africa Proprietary Limited

2010s

White industrial drilling machine with multiple pistons and mechanical components positioned in front of a blue door and a brick wall. Signage in the background reads "Raise Borer - Blind H.

2011

Opened site office at Glencore’s Kamoto mine
Designed and manufactured first dedicated low-profile blind hole drill rig
Close-up of industrial machinery with a white metal structure, various bolts, and black cables, framed by yellow safety rails. The machinery appears to be part of a larger mechanical setup, possibly in a factory or construction site.

2012

Listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)

Master Drilling Group Limited formed through reorganisation
Achieved world record in directional drilling at Lonmin mine with the most accurate pilot hole at a depth of 1.07km and a diameter vent shaft of 5.5m
Completed five shafts in Saudi Arabia
A group of four construction workers in safety gear share a light moment at a construction site. They are wearing orange and black uniforms, white helmets, and safety glasses. Behind them are yellow barriers, heavy machinery, and equipment under a clear blue sky.

2013

Awarded exploration drilling contract at Kolomela
Expanded global footprint to Mali and Guatemala by offering raise boring services
First automated machine went live at Sasol, South Africa
Peru’s first automated machine went live

Started raise boring services in Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for Randgold Resources

A large industrial drilling machine with multiple vertical metal cylinders and platforms is set against a background of a partly cloudy sky. The machine is accompanied by ladders and various attachments, showcasing its complex design and heavy-duty construction.

2014

Awarded contract at Palabora Mining for two ventilation shafts, each 6.1m in diameter and over 1.2km deep
Increased upgrading to automation control raise bore rigs
Designed and manufactured the RD8-1500, a raise bore drill rig capable of drilling 8.5m in diameter over 1.5km deep
Completed Rowland shaft
A close-up view of a white industrial machine component set against a clear blue sky. The component features two cylindrical elements in the center, framed by a rectangular structure with multiple red indicators.

2015

Expanded fleet size to 145 rigs (97 raise bore rigs and 48 slim drilling rigs)
Acquired 40% stake in Bergteamet Raiseboring Europe AB
Expanded geographical footprint into Ecuador and Colombia
Introduced new service offerings in the energy sector on hydro projects
Commissioned the RD8-1500, one of the largest raise bore rigs in the world
A worker in a safety vest operates a large, red construction drill amidst a rocky excavation site. Surrounding the worker and machine is a grey, rough terrain, suggesting ongoing construction or geological work.

2016

Acquired Bergteamet Europe SpA

Secured a five-year extension of a key AngloGold Ashanti contract in South America
Contracts awarded in Sierra Leone and Tanzania
Awarded first blind shafting contract in the USA
Three workers in orange safety uniforms and white hard hats are holding a banner that reads "HRB Phase 1 Completion. World's first Ø 4.5m HRB through kimberlite." They are standing in front of a large piece of industrial machinery with gears and components.

2017

Secured contracts in India and Australia

Placed order for
Mobile Tunnel Borer (MTB) machine

Successful completion of the vertically integrated raise boring trial at Cullinan mine
A wide tunnel under construction features various heavy machinery and equipment. Workers in safety gear are seen within the tunnel, focusing on their tasks. The tunnel wall is marked with some graffiti and is well-lit, giving a clear view of the construction process.

2018

Finalised and launched
the first Mobile Tunnel Borer (MTB)

Acquired Atlantis Group
Acquired remaining 60% shares in Bergteamet Raiseboring Europe

Invested in TunnelPro in Italy to assist with access to Mobile Tunnel Borer (MTB) market

An interior view of a large tunnel under construction. The curved walls are lined with bolts and some writing. Construction equipment and machinery line the floor and sides. A green tarp partially obscures the tunnel’s end in the distance.

2019

Mobile Tunnel Borer (MTB) pilot project initiated in South Africa
Shaft Boring System (SBS) phase 1 successfully launched
Started drilling of the world’s deepest raise bore (1.45km single lift at Zondereinde, South Africa)

2020s

2020

Expansion into Australia

Successfully completed pilot drilling of the world’s deepest raise bore (1.45km single lift at Zondereinde, South Africa)
Acquisition of Geoserve Exploration Drilling
Retained sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic
New RD6 large raise bore machine manufactured
Remote drilling of raise bore rigs implemented

2021

Record Group revenue of USD171.8 million – the highest in the history of the Group

Acquired an approximate 25% shareholding in Abandonment and Rehabilitation (A&R) Group

Acquired 40% shareholding in Applied Vehicle Analysis (AVA)

2022

First time the Group breaks through USD200 million revenue
First time the Group breaks through USD200 million revenue

Obtained control of Abandonment and Rehabilitation (A&R) Group

A group of cranes erects a large metal framework during dusk. The sky is dark blue, and the cranes' lights illuminate the structure and surrounding area. Workers and equipment are visible at the base of the framework.

2023

Best safety performance to date with Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) of 0.5

Record Group revenue of USD242.8 million – the highest in the history of the Group
Manufacturing of new technology vacuum mining machine finalised

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