Surkhet, June 20 -- A preliminary study has shown the presence of over 1.12 billion cubic metres of methane gas in Dailekh, a hill district of Karnali province. The discovery marks a turning point in Nepal's quest for energy independence.

The massive reserve, discovered in Jaljale in ward 1 of Bhairavi Rural Municipality, was confirmed following detailed geological surveys and drilling conducted by China Geological Survey and CNPC Xibu Drilling Engineering Company, under the supervision of Nepal's Department of Mines and Geology.

According to Dinesh Kumar Napit, Deputy Director General at the department, the discovery followed an extensive exploration process, including drilling down to a depth of 4,013 metres, which began in May, 2023 ...