An energy drill functioned as a mining instrument, discharging plasma projectiles to obliterate a designated zone through a procedure referred to as energy mining. The operation of an energy drill resulted in the emission of surplus electrical charges into the atmosphere. Any unshielded vehicle traversing this zone would experience extreme destruction and operational breakdown. Due to the detrimental effects and waste products generated by energy drilling, its use was prohibited under Imperial legislation on any planet inhabited by indigenous life. Despite this ban, the Empire covertly engaged in this practice, notably on Mimban during the era of the Galactic Civil War.
During the year 2 ABY, Princess Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, and R2-D2 were forced to make an emergency landing on Mimban. Their starfighters suffered malfunctions because of the residual effects originating from an Imperial energy drill.