LG Saxena commissions India’s First Geothermal Wells in Ladakh

Two 1,000-metre-deep wells to support India’s first 1 MW pilot geothermal power project after revival of the Puga Valley project

LEH: India on Friday crossed a milestone in its renewable energy programme with the commissioning of the country’s first two geothermal wells at Puga Valley in Ladakh, a development expected to accelerate the establishment of India’s first demonstration-scale geothermal power project and advance the Union Territory’s transition towards carbon-neutral growth.

Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena commissioned the two geothermal wells, executed by the ONGC Energy Centre, describing the achievement as a defining moment in India’s clean energy journey and an important step towards harnessing geothermal resources for sustainable power generation.

The two wells, each drilled to a depth of 1,000 metres at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet, are central to the proposed 1 MW pilot geothermal power project at Puga, which is envisaged as the country’s first geothermal power generation facility. The wells will facilitate reservoir assessment, engineering studies and power plant planning before commercial utilisation of geothermal resources is taken up.

According to project engineers, drilling has already recorded subsurface temperatures of 135 degrees Celsius at a depth of 400 metres. Further thermal assessments are underway, with officials expressing optimism that higher temperatures suitable for continuous power generation will be encountered during subsequent testing.

The project had faced a prolonged interruption after the expiry of the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between the Ladakh Administration, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, and the ONGC Energy Centre. Officials said construction resumed after the agreement was renewed for another five years in June following the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Saxena, allowing the drilling programme to be completed.

The first geothermal well reached its target depth on May 22, while the second well, drilling of which commenced on June 3, was completed on July 8, with engineers accomplishing the task in just over a month despite operating in one of the world’s most demanding high-altitude environments marked by rugged terrain, geothermal activity and a short working season.

Addressing the gathering, Saxena said the geothermal project would strengthen Ladakh’s long-term energy security while contributing to environmental sustainability and regional economic development. He observed that the initiative aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of developing Ladakh as a carbon-neutral region powered by renewable energy and could provide a model for India’s broader transition towards net-zero emissions.

The Lieutenant Governor also commended the engineers, technicians and workers of the ONGC Energy Centre for executing the technically demanding project under extreme climatic conditions, stating that their efforts reflected the country’s growing engineering capability in complex energy infrastructure.