A Chinese team along with Industry Minister Som Prasad Pandey have made a site visit of the area between Sunsari’s Barahachhetra and Morang’s Bahuni for possible petroleum exploration.

The team has been preparing a report incorporating their study in the other areas of the country too. “The team has returned to Kathmandu after conducting a study in Barahachhetra and Bahuni where drilling works had been conducted in the past,” said Sudhir Rajaure, chief of Petroleum Exploration Unit at the Department of Mines and Geology. “A six-member team sent by the Chinese government has studied rocks there.”

The team had earlier visited previously-drilled areas in Dailekh, Surkhet, Butwal and Palpa. “The team will submit the report to us before leaving for China,” said Rajaure. 

As a part of an agreement reached between Nepal and China during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to Beijing in March, the Chinese team visited Nepal for the study.

About 35 years ago, exploration works had been started in 10 different places to find out if there is the reserve of petroleum products and natural gas. 

Locals here are excited about the prospects of finding petroleum products in their surroundings. “After the Indian embargo, the government seems to have opened its eyes and prioritised exploration works,” said Narendra Bahadur Tamang, a local.

A Netherland-based company has already drilled 3,520m in Bahauni, which is one of the 10 potential areas with petroleum reserves.

Several studies so far have shown the area has petroleum reserves, according to the department. The government has assigned two security guards for the area’s security. A few years ago, the government had fenced the area.