80.70 billion cubic metres gas deposit confirmed in Jaljale, Dailekh (Nepal)

The Rising Nepal ^ | 2/12/26 | TRN Online

[Uncle Miltie]

Mineral gas deposit of 80.70 billion cubic metres has been confirmed at Bhairabi Rural Municipality-1 of Dailekh district.

This is confirmed in the final exploration report submitted to the Government of Nepal by the Chinese Company, China Geological Survey.

Spokesperson at the Department of Mines and Geology Dharma Raj Khadka stated that the storage data was released after a comprehensive study by the Chinese team.

In the preliminary report made public earlier, it was estimated that there could be 1.12 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the area.

He said further testing and the final study have proved larger quantity of gas than previously estimated.

The Department has stated even if storage is confirmed, the actual information about its commercial production and extraction capacity will only be obtained after 'well testing'.

Spokesperson Khadka said, “So far, we have only determined the size of the storage. Until the well testing is carried out, it is not possible to finalize how much gas can be extracted and which technology would be suitable.”

According to him, in the next phase, other equipment will be used at the 'drilled' site to break the rock or displace the natural gas.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs
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[Uncle Miltie]

This is a medium sized find for the world, but a big find for Nepal.

Grok:

The 80.7 billion cubic meters (BCM) natural gas reserve confirmed today (February 12, 2026) in Dailekh district, Nepal (specifically at Jaljale in Bhairavi Rural Municipality), is considered medium to large in scale for a single field or discovery, particularly in the context of Nepal’s energy landscape and emerging hydrocarbon regions.

This is a significant find for Nepal, which has historically had negligible proven natural gas reserves and relies heavily on imported fuels. Local reports describe it as “massive” or a major development for energy security, with the final confirmation from the China Geological Survey down from an initial preliminary estimate of around 112 BCM (or even higher speculative regional figures in earlier 2025 reports). Officials note that commercial production depends on further well testing to assess extractable volumes and suitable technology.

To put the size in global perspective:

• Small fields typically have reserves under ~10–50 BCM. • Medium fields range from roughly 50–200 BCM. • Large fields are often 200–850 BCM (sometimes called “giants”). • Supergiant fields exceed ~850 BCM (30 trillion cubic feet / ~850 BCM), with the world’s largest (like South Pars/North Dome, shared by Qatar and Iran) holding trillions of cubic meters.

At ~80.7 BCM (approximately 2.85 trillion cubic feet), this discovery falls into the medium-to-large category for individual fields—far from supergiant scale but substantial enough to potentially meet a meaningful portion of Nepal’s future domestic demand (earlier estimates suggested similar-sized finds could cover national needs for decades, though extraction feasibility remains key).

For comparison:

• Many producing fields in the US or elsewhere are smaller (e.g., under 50 BCM). • Giant fields like those in Russia (e.g., Urengoy historically ~8–10 trillion cubic meters initially) or the Middle East dwarf it. • Globally, proven reserves are dominated by countries like Russia (~47–50 trillion cubic meters total), Iran, and Qatar, where single fields can be orders of magnitude larger.

This positions it as a noteworthy breakthrough for South Asia and Nepal specifically, but not “extremely large” on the world stage. Further appraisal could adjust the recoverable estimate upward or downward.

[Uncle Miltie]

I’m not at all happy China is involved.

[sopo]

I wonder how much the Himalayas will deflate when they let that gas out of the bag

[Yulee]

I’m not at all happy China is involved.
*************
How long before China claims Nepal as part of China?

[Uncle Miltie]

Yeah, I’ll show up and supply the good guys.

[Deaf Smith]

“used at the ‘drilled” site to break the rock”

Can’t just come out a say they will perf the rock and then frac it.

[Organic Panic]

Nepal is toast now. China will take it over and no one will stop it. China has mastered the tactic of only doing small little things which would normally be acts of war but the world is no willing to do anything more than use bumper stickers.

[al baby]

Last year

[HYPOCRACY]

Nepal is under India’s sphere of influence. There is no way India would stand by if China got stupid.

[technically right]

Greta will not be amused.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“You may know it as Dailekh, but it will always be Burma to me.” ;)

Great for the country - but I’m 100% certain that whatever corrupt government they are currently living under will steal the wealth from their populace. :(

Works every time it’s tried! *SPIT*

[crusty old prospector]

The rest of the world uses cubic meters. In ‘Merica, we use cubic feet. It equates to 2.8 trillion cubic feet, which is a good conventional find.

[healy61]

It is nearly 1 cubic mile. A little shy.

[Frank Drebin]

[nathanbedford]

Right. Nepal is on the safe side of the Himalayas from China. Even if China invaded, quite unlikely, it wouldn't pay for a relatively small gas field that could be delivered to China only through a very expensive pipeline when other lines to other sources are bigger and more economic.

[Elsie]

Slightly less has been found in the Halls of Congress.