Natural gas discovery in Dailekh sparks hopes for local employment and energy independence
Summary
Natural gas discovered in Dailekh’s Jaljale site promises to boost local employment and reduce Nepal's LPG imports by providing a domestic energy source.
Key Points
- An estimated 112 billion cubic metres of methane gas have been discovered in Dailekh, western Nepal, marking a significant find in Nepal's energy sector.
- The Chinese government has partnered with Nepal for exploration, investing around Rs2.5 billion and providing technical support.
- The government is planning to prioritize domestic use of methane gas for cooking, transport, and chemical fertiliser production to reduce LPG imports costing Nepal Rs28 billion annually.
- Local communities are calling for rapid development and local employment opportunities following the natural gas discovery.
