Locals in Bhairabi Rural Municipality–1, Jaljale, Dailekh are eagerly waiting for the next phase of petroleum exploration after initial drilling work brought excitement and curiosity to them.

For months, locals like Sher Bahadur Thapa, 65, were disturbed by the constant noise from the 24-hour drilling. Over time, they got used to it.

Now, however, the machinery has fallen silent, leaving the community anxious about when work will resume.

“Now the only memory left is the sound itself. We are just waiting for it to start again,” Thapa said.

Another local, Jagat Mahtara, recalled the excitement when the drilling began, with many wondering if methane gas would be found.

“Finding gas brought joy, but now everything is quiet. We are waiting to know when production will begin,” he added.

Local entrepreneurs said that if the second phase of exploration and production had started immediately, it could have boosted not only Dailekh’s development but also the national economy.

Political leaders, civil society groups, and industrialists are closely following the project, urging the government to move forward.

Preliminary studies by China’s Geological Survey show that the area holds 11.2 billion cubic metres of natural methane gas.

A proposal has been sent to the Chinese government to begin production testing, but no official response has been received yet, according to the Department of Mines and Geology.

Prakash Luitel, a geologist at the Department of Mines and Geology, said technical studies are ongoing and the proposal for the second phase has already been submitted.

According to him, the preliminary report indicates the presence of 11.2 billion cubic metres of natural methane gas.

“The report has yet to be officially handed over,” he said, adding, “But this is the information we are working with. We have already submitted a proposal to begin the second phase of production, but no response has been received yet.”

“The delay is partly due to different fiscal years between Nepal and China. China’s fiscal year begins in January, so we hope the proposal will move forward soon,” he said.

Luitel added that the Nepal government, especially the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, must actively support the process.

Narendra Thapa, President of the Dailekh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said political parties and business leaders are preparing to submit a memorandum to push the government to start gas extraction.

“Nepalis have waited long for this project. Whichever government is in power must ensure it moves ahead,” he said. The initial study, conducted over six years with Chinese assistance at a cost of Rs. 217 million, confirmed enough natural gas to last 50–60 years.

The Drilling was carried out by China’s CNPC Xibu Engineering Company, from May 11, 2023 at a depth of 4,013 metres.

Agreements for petroleum exploration were first made during former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to China in 2016, and formalised in 2017 and 2019.

By Kamal Sharma