Kathmandu: The government has expedited preparation to explore and excavate minerals in various 13 places in Nepal.

The Department of Mines and Geology has issued a tender notice for excavation of five minerals. Director General at the Department, Ram Prasad Ghimire, informed that the tender notice was issued for the exploration and digging of limestone, copper, marble sand and caballine.

Limestone would be explored at Kapurkot of Salyan, and Tandranggadhi and Jurethum of Dhading, marble at Supin of Makwanpur, sand at Ghyalchowk of Gorkha, copper at Ghusa of Dhading, Okharbot of Myagdi, Agrakhola of Makwanpur and caballine at Daman of Makwanpur.

Director General Ghimire further informed that qualified and selected national and international companies would be given permission for the excavation. They need to submit the proposal with 60 percent allocation on technical aspects and 40 percent on economic aspect.