Equipment for petroleum exploration from China arrive in Dailekh

By Our Correspondent,Dailekh, Apr. 3: The equipment brought from China for exploration and extraction of petroleum products in Shiristhan, Navisthan of Dailekh has arrived. In the first phase, five small trucks carrying the equipment arrived in Dailekh crossing the Rupaidiha border on Monday from China via Kolkata.

According to the District Administration Office, Dailekh, the equipment brought from China for the final drilling survey work for excavation of petroleum products in Jaljele in Bhairabi Rural Municipality-1 has arrived.

Chief District Officer of Dailekh Khimraj Bhusal said that 22 mini trucks and one 12-wheeler truck have reached Jaljele. He said that small trucks came to Dailekh via Surkhet and big trucks were going to reach Jaljele via Karnali and Mid-Hill Highway.

He said, "As soon as we got the information that the 12-wheeler truck had come to Dullu Municipality-9, Paduka under the Mid-Hill Highway and stopped due to narrowness of the road for its turning, we are trying to create space for its turning by using an excavator."

The trucks carrying tools and equipment brought from China for the extraction of petroleum products were stopped at Rupaidiha for almost three weeks due to a dispute over the customs revenue. But, after the decision of the Ministry of Finance, trucks carrying equipment will come to Jaljele, said the project.

Dinesh Napit, Chief of Petroleum Exploration Project under the Department of Mines and Geology, said that 150 trucks will reach Jaljale carrying goods for the final exploration of petroleum products. He said that 10 mini trucks have already reached Jaljale and 150 trucks will reach there in a day or two.

He said, “After widening the road from Surkhet on the Karnali Highway to Sangetada in Dailekh and from Chamunda Bindrasaini Municipality to Jaljale on the Mid-Hill Highway, it has become easy for trucks carrying equipment to reach Jaljele.”

Nepalis and Chinese technicians conducted four surveys under the first phase, namely Seismic Survey, Geological Survey, Magnetotelluric Survey and Geo Chemical Sampling Survey. Earlier, the team had completed the first phase of feasibility study and the second phase of exploration through drill machines.

For exploration, in 2019, an agreement was signed between the Department of Mines and Geology, Nepal government and Geological Survey Company, Chinese government for the financial and technical support of Rs. 2.40 billion for the exploration and extraction of petroleum products.

An agreement was made to complete the exploration work by 2022, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the work could not be completed as expected. After acquiring 45 ropanis of land belonging to 27 households in Bhairabi Rural Municipality-1 Jaljale, the government is rapidly building the necessary infrastructure.

For the final exploration, 'drilling' will be done up to about four kilometers underground. The Department of Mines and Geology said that as soon as the amount of petroleum and gas storage is found after drilling, preparations will be made to proceed to the next stage.