Kathmandu, October 20
A government team is set to visit China to finalise discussions on the report regarding the methane gas reserves discovered in Jaljale, Dailekh.
Led by Dinesh Kumar Napit, Director General of the Department of Mines and Geology, the team will discuss finalising the detailed exploration report of the gas reserves.
Geological studies conducted by China Geological Survey in Chengdu and drilling by China’s CNPC Cibu Engineering Company had confirmed the presence of methane gas in Dailekh. Officials from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies estimate the reserves to be around 112 billion cubic meters enough to meet Nepal’s demand for 50 years.
However, China has yet to submit the final exploration report. According to the ministry, the Chinese team is expected to provide it in December. The Nepali team will review the draft report during its visit.
“The Chinese side has organised a report discussion session, and our team will participate to review it before the final submission in December,” a department source told Onlinekhabar.
Drilling had begun in Jaljale on Baisakh 28, 2080 (May 2023), reaching a depth of 4,000 meters. Samples were collected and sent to China for further testing. Officials said the report will determine the gas’s quality, processing feasibility, production cost, and commercial viability.
