Petroleum exploration in Dailekh has reached its final phase, with 3,800 meters of drilling completed out of the planned 4,000 meters. The Department of Mines and Geology, in collaboration with a Chinese technical team, began drilling on May 10 in the Jaljale area of Bhairabi Municipality-1. According to geologist Prakash Luintel, the remaining work is expected to be completed by mid-January 2024.
The project is being carried out by a team of 80 Chinese and Nepali workers on a 45-ropani site. Drilling has progressed at a rate of 15 to 20 meters per day, with samples collected at each meter. These samples are being analyzed at the drilling site, the Department of Mines and Geology, and facilities in China. The final report, which will determine the storage conditions and viability of petroleum and natural gas deposits, is anticipated within four months.
This initiative follows a February 2019 agreement with the Chinese government, supported by a grant of NPR 2.50 billion, to conduct research in Shirasthan, Nabishthan, and Padukasthan. Earlier phases included seismic, geological, magnetotelluric, and geochemical surveys, all completed on schedule. The final phase of drilling will provide the necessary data to confirm whether commercial extraction of petroleum products is feasible.
Preliminary findings suggest the presence of petroleum, with the smell of hydrocarbons detected during drilling. If the final analysis confirms significant deposits, the project could mark a turning point for Nepal’s energy sector by potentially enabling domestic petroleum production, reducing reliance on imports, and boosting the national economy.
