Chinese team arriving for third-phase petro products exploration

March 17, Kathmandu: Chinese technicians will be arriving in Nepal by the first week of April for a drilling survey to be conducted in Dailekh district under the third phase of petroleum products exploration.

The exploration which was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic is now being expedited.

The first phase of exploration that started in September-October 2019 has already been completed.

Geologist of Department of Mines and Geology Dr Ganesh Nath Tripathi confirmed that the Chinese team would be arriving for the preparedness of drilling.

The team is expected to be in Nepal by coming April 1. If the trip is delayed, the team will be here by mid-April.

It will reach the exploration site and study the geological condition and access to the road before carrying out drilling works below four kilometres of soil.

The team will complete the task in two to three months and submit a report to the government.

The first phase of the exploration works had been completed before the Dashain festival in October as per the agreement reached with the government.

Dr Tripathi said all four surveys – seismic, geological, magnetotelluric and geochemical sampling – under the first phase were completed by the Chinese government technical team within the stipulated time in accordance with the agreement.