Ladakh’s Puga Valley Geothermal Project enters demonstration phase

ONGC brings India’s cleen energy ambitions closer to reality

LEH: India’s push to diversify its renewable energy portfolio has gained momentum with the completion of the country’s second geothermal well in Ladakh’s Puga Valley, a development that moves the proposed 1-megawatt (MWe) pilot geothermal power plant closer to reality and positions the high-altitude region at the centre of the country’s emerging geothermal energy programme.

The state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) announced that its research and development arm, the ONGC Energy Centre (OEC), successfully drilled the second geothermal well to a depth of 1,000 metres at an altitude exceeding 14,000 feet, completing the operation in nearly a month despite the harsh Himalayan terrain.

The achievement was announced by ONGC, which said its research and development arm, the ONGC Energy Centre (OEC), drilled the well to its target depth of 1,000 metres at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet in approximately one month despite the challenging Himalayan terrain.

According to the company, the latest drilling campaign marks a major improvement over its inaugural geothermal operation in Puga, with optimised drilling techniques, a deeper understanding of the valley’s complex geological formations and a substantial reduction in drilling costs. The company described the accomplishment as an important step towards establishing India’s first 1-megawatt electric (MWe) pilot geothermal power plant and opening new avenues for the commercial development of geothermal energy.

The second well follows the successful completion of OEC’s first geothermal well in Puga, which produced steam at temperatures above the boiling point of water, providing scientific validation of the area’s geothermal resource potential. ONGC said the results have strengthened confidence in the viability of geothermal power generation in the region and have placed India’s geothermal programme on a stronger technological footing.

“The milestone now paves the way for India’s first 1 MWe pilot geothermal power plant and opens new possibilities for the commercial development of geothermal energy in the country,” the company said, adding that the project represents a decisive advance in India’s efforts to diversify its clean energy sources.

The proposed pilot plant is expected to serve as the country’s first demonstration project for geothermal electricity generation and provide valuable operational data for future commercial projects. In the longer term, the initiative is aimed at harnessing the geothermal resources of Puga to provide dependable baseload electricity for Ladakh, where extreme weather conditions and difficult terrain pose persistent energy supply challenges.

Highlighting the regional implications of the project, ONGC said the breakthrough holds the promise of clean and reliable baseload power, enhanced energy security and sustainable development for Ladakh. “From deep beneath the Himalayas, ONGC is unlocking a powerful new chapter in India’s clean energy journey,” the company said.

Situated in eastern Ladakh, the Puga geothermal field has long been recognised by geologists as India’s most promising geothermal resource. Although exploratory investigations have been carried out intermittently for decades, commercial geothermal power generation has remained unrealised owing to technical complexities and economic constraints.

Unlike solar and wind energy, geothermal power utilises heat stored beneath the Earth’s surface to generate continuous, low-carbon electricity independent of weather conditions, making it one of the few renewable sources capable of delivering uninterrupted baseload power.

The progress at Puga comes as India seeks to broaden its renewable energy mix beyond solar, wind and hydropower while pursuing its target of installing 500 GW of non-fossil-fuel electricity generation capacity by 2030. The success of the pilot project is expected to shape the future trajectory of geothermal energy development in the country and could position Ladakh at the forefront of India’s emerging geothermal sector.