NU
Fri, 20 June 2025
A study conducted by a Chinese company has has found an estimated 1.12 billion cubic metres of natural gas in western district of Dailekh, Nepali officials said.
According to the Department of Mines and Geology, the discovery was based on a geological survey conducted by the China Geological Survey and exploratory drilling by CNPC Xibu Drilling Engineering Company, a Chinese state-owned firm.
Preliminary survey of petroleum resources in Jaljale, located in Bhairabi Rural Municipality–1 of Dailekh, has confirmed the presence of methane gas, officials said.
Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari told BBC Nepali that the Chinese technical team confirmed the presence of natural gas at the drilling site, sufficient to meet Nepal’s needs for 50 years.
Chief District Officer of Dailekh, Badrinath Gaire said that if the survey proves successful, it would improve the country’s economic prospects and will also create a large number of employment opportunities.
China’s CNPC Xibu Engineering Company began drilling on May 11, 2023, over 4,013 metres beneath the surface in Jaljale.
An agreement for financial and technical support worth Rs. 2.4 billion was signed with the Chinese Geological Survey Company.
The China Geological Survey Company is expected to submit its final report by December 2025.
The federal government had approved the acquisition of 45 ropanis of land to carry forward the petroleum survey work, reports said.
Photo Credit: https://petroleumnepal.gov.np/
