The petroleum exploration project in Jaljale area of Bhairavi Rural Municipality-1 in Dailekh district has entered its final stage, with only 70 meters of drilling left to reach the initial target depth of 4,000 meters, the state-run national news agency RSS reported

According to the Department of Mines and Geology, drilling, which began on May 10, has so far reached a depth of 3,930 meters. The project, funded by a Rs 2.5 billion grant from the Chinese government, aims to identify domestic petroleum and natural gas reserves, reducing Nepal's dependence on imported fuel.

Chief of the Petroleum Project Division under the Department of Mines and Geology, Ganesh Nath Tripathi, told RSS that drilling is expected to conclude within this month, barring further technical challenges. The project has already completed preliminary surveys, including seismic, geological, magneto-telluric, and geochemical sampling, under a partnership between the Department, China Geological Survey, and Sibu Drilling Engineering Company.

The exploration site spans 45 ropanis of land (approximately 2.47 hectares) acquired six years ago under a Nepal-China cooperation agreement. Compensation of Rs 175,000 per ropani was provided to 27 local families. A team of 80 personnel, comprising Chinese and Nepali workers, is involved in the drilling process.

This high-priority initiative represents a significant step in Nepal’s quest for energy independence.

Once the drilling reaches the 4,500-meter mark, geologists expect to have a clearer assessment of Nepal’s petroleum potential, helping chart the country’s course toward self-sufficiency in energy.

“It can be ascertained whether or not there is adequate stock of petroleum products only after drilling up to a depth of at least 4,000 meters,” RSS quoted Tripathi as saying in an earlier interview.