Petroleum Exploration Nears Completion in Dailekh

Petroleum exploration in Dailekh has reached its final stages, with only 70 meters of drilling left to complete. The Department of Mines and Geology reported that 3,930 meters of drilling had been completed as of Wednesday.

The exploration began on May 10 in the Jaljale area of Bhairabi Rural Municipality-1. The project aims to conclude drilling operations by the end of December, said Ganesh Nath Tripathi, chief of the department’s petroleum project.

In the first phase, a Chinese technical team successfully conducted seismic, geological, magnetotelluric, and geochemical sampling surveys. The drilling, part of the second phase, is progressing ahead of schedule.

The project, supported by a grant of Rs 2.5 billion from the Chinese government, involves a collaborative effort between the Department of Mines and Geology, the China Geological Survey, and Cibu Drilling Engineering Company. A workforce of 80, including Nepali and Chinese professionals, is engaged in the operation.

A total of 45 ropanis of land was acquired at the Jaljale site for the project, marking a significant step toward exploring Nepal’s potential for petroleum and natural gas resources.