It has been discovered that there are 112 billion cubic meters of natural gas in Dailekh. According to the Department of Mines and Geology, based on the geological study of the China Geological Survey and the drilling conducted by China's CNPC Sibu Engineering Company, according to the preliminary report, methane gas has been found in large quantities. According to the department, its final report will come by December.

According to the study conducted by the Chinese expert team, it has been discovered that methane gas, which is enough for Nepal to reach 50 years, is in the Bhairavi Rural Municipality-1 water bodies of Dailekh. Now the department has started the necessary process to confirm it by producing the test.

China's government agency China Geological Survey conducted a survey at various stages, while China's CNPC Sibu Engineering Company conducted a study by drilling for about one and a half years from 28 Baisakh 2080. "We had drilled up to 4 thousand 13 meters," said Dinesh Kumar Napit, deputy director general of the department, "of which we had sent a 1/1 meter sample for testing, now for the rest of the process, the work will proceed after further agreement between the governments of both countries." 

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The Chinese team collected rock samples and took them to China for further tests including gas quantity and quality. "Exploration work was started by estimating the petroleum substance, now it is found that there is a lot of gas, he is also doing oil testing, then information about the storage condition of petroleum substance will also come," Deputy Director General Napit said, "The initial report has given a positive message, now the way for commercial testing is open." 

There was a bilateral agreement between the prime minister of China and Nepal in March 2072 for the extraction of petroleum products in Dailekh. On that basis, a preliminary study was conducted by the Department of Mines and a team of Chinese technicians for about 6 months from October 2076, and in February 2076, an agreement was signed between the Department of Mines and Geology and the Geological Survey Company of the Chinese Government for exploration and excavation for 2.4 billion rupees. But the information officer of the department, Mukund Bhattarai, said that the work has been delayed due to the corona epidemic, delay in bringing big equipment for excavation and exploration, road problems, land acquisition etc. According to him, after the 3-year contract expired in February 2019, the project was extended again in 2022. According to the

department, after completing the second phase of exploration with drilling from May 28, 2080 to December 2081, the team of Chinese technicians returned with a sample. "In the beginning, Corona created a problem, later when the roads were narrow, big drilling equipment could not come," he said. In the second phase, the work of digging the ground and extracting the sample (drilling) has been done. 45 ropani land was acquired in Jaljale for drilling . He informed that about 70 technicians worked for 19 months. At that time, about 100 local workers also got employment. 

If gas production works in Dailekh, the country is  Padam Bahadur Shah, president of Federation of Industries and Commerce, Karnali Province, said to become self-sufficient. "If the commercial production of gas starts, the economic burden of Nepal will decrease, foreign currency will be saved, which will contribute greatly to the national economy," he said, "If the commercial production is started, the government will get a large amount of revenue, foreign investment will be attracted and opportunities will open for technology transfer." He said that a large number of local jobs will be available and it will also help in infrastructure development.

Kamal Lamsal, a vice-professor of the Midwest University, says that after the commercial production of gas in Dailekh, Nepal can take strategic geopolitical benefits from both India and China. "By building an oil processing plant, a regional energy center can also be created, it will also greatly help in import substitution and reduction of trade deficit," he said, adding that the large population of Karnali can be given employment by developing auxiliary industries and innovative enterprises in the surrounding areas.

Chemist Vijay Sharma said that methane gas is considered a clean fuel as an alternative to petrol-diesel. "Methane gas can be used to drive vehicles, generate electricity and even light a house," he said. "There are three such places that are estimated to contain petroleum," Napit, the deputy director general of the department, said, "If those places are also explored, the result of gas storage will increase." 

According to him, a new agreement with the Chinese government will be necessary for the next stage of work. "The Chinese team has completed all the work that should be done in the field according to the agreement so far. After receiving a positive message in the first phase, we are now discussing how to proceed with the test production," he said.

What is methane gas?

Methane is a greenhouse gas . It is called a hydrocarbon because it is made up of hydrogen and carbon. In nature, it is especially formed when long-lived organic matter accumulates and is eaten. It is also used as energy. Since methane gas cannot be filled in LP gas cylinders, a separate large gas cylinder is required  Experts say . LP gas is mixed with petroleum products while methane gas produced from garbage is mixed with water .