Kathmandu, June 20: The Chinese team involved in a survey on the possibility of petroleum products in Jaljale, located in Bhairabi Rural Municipality–1 of Dailekh, has confirmed a huge stock of methane gas.

According to initial data, there could be approximately 112 billion cubic metres of methane gas in Jaljale.

The Chinese technical team confirmed the presence of natural gas at the drilling site, sufficient to meet Nepal’s needs for 50 years.

If the survey proves successful, it would improve the country’s economic status.

However, the country will have to wait till the end of 2025 to determine whether exploring petroleum products is commercially viable or not.

China’s CNPC Xibu Engineering Company began drilling on May 11, 2023, over 4,013 metres beneath the surface in Jaljale.

An agreement for financial and technical support worth Rs. 2.4 billion was signed with the Chinese Geological Survey Company.

The China Geological Survey Company is preparing to submit its final report by December 2025.

People’s News Monitoring Service.