- If the government, encouraged by the confirmation of petroleum reserves, actively works on its production and storage, then our generation could benefit not only from the petroleum in Dailekh, iron in Dhaubadi, and uranium in the Chure-Bhawar region, but also from many other unexplored and yet-to-be-confirmed mineral resources.
The entire nation is currently filled with excitement after a Chinese team submitted a preliminary report stating that Jaljale in Dailekh contains 112 billion cubic meters of natural gas, which could meet Nepal’s needs for the next 50 years. This finding emerged following geological studies by China’s government agency, the China Geological Survey, and drilling conducted by CNPC Xibu Engineering Company. Starting on May 11, 2023, the team drilled down to a depth of 4,000 meters, and lab testing of the extracted samples revealed this information.
Following the confirmation of a petroleum reserve in Dailekh, studies and analyses have begun from various angles, and along with that, the need and importance of chemical engineering in Nepal has once again come to the forefront.
Although chemical engineering is a relatively new field in the context of Nepal, it has been an established discipline for over a century in countries that are advancing through industrial revolutions. Today, nations rich in petroleum and other fuels are leading the global economy through the application of chemical technology.
In Nepal, the Chemical Engineering program has been running at Kathmandu University since 2015. and at Tribhuvan University since 2019. However, for nearly three decades, many Nepalis have been studying chemical engineering under the Colombo Plan. Currently, around… (Note: The sentence ends abruptly—please provide the remaining part if you’d like a complete translation.)
Around 250 chemical engineers are currently registered with the Nepal Engineering Council, and many are also working in high-level positions within government institutions. Chemical engineers play an important role in sustainable development by seeking safe methods for industry, production, pollution control, and resource conservation.
The discovery and confirmation of petroleum in Dailekh, iron in Dhaubadi, uranium in the Chure-Bhawar region, and various other mineral resources across the country is, in itself, a positive development. Although the presence of such resources in Nepal has been confirmed, there has not been significant emphasis on their processing and commercial production.
According to a study conducted as early as 1980 by JICA and the Government of Nepal, gas was found at depths ranging from 20 to 330 meters in certain areas of Kathmandu and Lalitpur. It was estimated that, if commercially produced, the gas could meet the Valley’s demand at that time for 50 years. Unfortunately, that report remained just a report, and commercial production never materialized.
The natural gas reportedly found in Jaljale, Dailekh, is methane. Methane is composed of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. It naturally occurs within petroleum formations, from the decomposition of organic matter, and in gas wells and coal mines. This gas is colorless, odorless, and highly flammable. Compared to petrol or diesel, methane is a cheaper, cleaner, and more environmentally friendly fuel. It can be used as fuel in vehicles, for electricity generation, for cooking by distributing it through pipelines to households, and even for lighting in domestic use.
Through steam methane reforming, methane gas can be converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide by using high temperatures and steam. In the context of Nepal, the hydrogen gas obtained from methane reforming can be used for ammonia gas production.
Ammonia gas is primarily a key source for chemical fertilizer production. The hydrogen and carbon dioxide obtained from methane gas play an important role in the production of urea.
Currently, the government has prioritized industries related to chemical fertilizer production, and Nepal Oil Corporation is also working in this area. Therefore, producing chemical fertilizers and urea using this methane appears to be a highly beneficial project economically. Similarly, commercial production of methanol from methane can also be carried out, and it can be used as a biofuel.
Globally, chemical engineers and engineering technologies are extensively involved in petroleum exploration, processing, and storage. In Nepal, the number of chemical engineers is relatively low, and even when there is demand, manpower is often unavailable, so such work has been carried out by personnel from related fields. However, now that chemical engineers are being professionally produced, it is essential to employ these trained professionals in such tasks.
Since carbon content is very high, chemical engineers play an important role in identifying processing methods that do not harm the environment, increasing production, and discovering and utilizing new technologies.
More than 50 percent of the total skilled workforce in the world’s largest petroleum refining industry, Saudi Aramco, are chemical engineers. In addition, large numbers of chemical engineers are employed in the petroleum industries of countries such as India, China, the United States, Kuwait, and Qatar.
This also highlights the role and importance of chemical engineers in petroleum exploration. It is a current necessity to utilize chemical engineers who have been trained domestically and those who have returned after higher education abroad to move towards commercial production.
If the government, encouraged by the confirmation of petroleum reserves, actively works on its production and storage, our generation can utilize not only the petroleum in Dailekh, the iron in Dhaubadi, and the uranium in the Chure-Bhawar region, but also many other mineral deposits yet to be confirmed.
Source: Kantipur
