SRINAGAR: India on Friday achieved a major milestone in its clean energy programme with the commissioning of the country’s first and deepest geothermal wells at Puga Valley in Ladakh, a development expected to accelerate the establishment of India’s first geothermal power plant.
The two geothermal wells, each drilled to a depth of 1,000 metres at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet, were commissioned by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. Executed by the ONGC Energy Centre, the wells will support the country’s first 1 MW demonstration-scale geothermal power project.
Project engineers said a temperature of 135 degrees Celsius has already been recorded at a depth of 400 metres, with further testing underway. They expect higher temperatures that could support electricity generation and future commercial exploitation of geothermal resources in the region.
The project is considered a significant step towards harnessing geothermal energy in India and advancing Ladakh’s goal of becoming a clean energy hub powered by renewable sources.
The geothermal project had faced delays after the expiry of an earlier tripartite memorandum of understanding involving the Ladakh Administration, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (Leh) and the ONGC Energy Centre. The agreement was renewed for another five years in June, allowing drilling work to resume.
The first well reached its target depth on May 22, while the second, which was spudded on June 3, was completed on July 8 in just over a month despite difficult geological conditions.
Located in one of the world’s harshest operating environments, the project involved drilling through complex subsurface formations amid extreme weather, rugged terrain and a short working season.
The wells are expected to facilitate reservoir evaluation, detailed power plant planning and eventual commercial development of geothermal energy in Ladakh.
Speaking after commissioning the wells, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena described the achievement as a historic milestone in India’s clean energy journey and a defining moment in Ladakh’s transition towards a carbon-neutral future.
He said the geothermal power project would strengthen Ladakh’s energy security, promote environmental sustainability and contribute to the region’s socio-economic development. He added that the initiative could serve as a model for India’s broader net-zero ambitions and help realise the vision of a carbon-neutral Ladakh.
Saxena also praised the ONGC engineers and workers involved in the project, saying the successful drilling of the wells under extreme conditions reflected the capability of Indian engineering and the determination of the project team.
