{"id":105249,"date":"2026-05-26T17:51:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T12:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=105249"},"modified":"2026-05-26T17:51:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T12:21:10","slug":"indias-first-geothermal-power-project-in-ladakh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/indias-first-geothermal-power-project-in-ladakh\/","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s First Geothermal Power Project in Ladakh"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ladakh has approved a five-year extension of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for the development of the Puga Geothermal Power Project, India\u2019s first geothermal power project, at Puga Valley in eastern Ladakh. The earlier tripartite MoU signed in February 2021 had expired in February 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The extended agreement between the Ladakh Administration, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, and the ONGC Energy Centre aims to establish a pilot geothermal power plant and lay the foundation for large-scale geothermal energy development in India.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>About Puga Geothermal Power Project<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Puga Geothermal Power Project is India\u2019s first geothermal power project being developed at Puga Valley in Ladakh to harness underground geothermal heat for electricity generation.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project is being <\/span><b>developed by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">through the ONGC Energy Centre in collaboration with the <\/span><b>Ladakh Administration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><b>Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A five-year extension of the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was approved in 2026 after the earlier agreement signed in February 2021 expired.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The revised MoU includes the following provisions:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishment of a 1 MW pilot geothermal power plant in Puga Valley.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for commercial-scale geothermal development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deepening of the existing geothermal well to 1,000 metres.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drilling of another 1,000-metre geothermal well in the next phase.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Testing and commissioning of the pilot plant expected during FY 2026\u201327.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expansion of geothermal surveys and investigations to the Chumathang region under Phase II.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project site is <\/span><b>located at an altitude of over 14,000 feet<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in <\/span><b>eastern Ladakh.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Why is Puga Valley Suitable for Geothermal Power Generation?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Puga Valley and Chumathang lie within the Himalayan geothermal belt where tectonic plate collision generates intense underground heat. Several scientific studies have established the viability of geothermal power generation in the region:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A geothermal well drilled to 405 metres in 2025 became the deepest geothermal well drilled in Ladakh.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Geothermometric studies revealed subsurface temperatures above 240\u00b0C.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Test wells generated high-pressure steam and geothermal fluids at shallow depths.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Temperatures exceeding 200\u00b0C were observed at around 400 metres depth.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>About Geothermal Energy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Geothermal energy refers to the heat energy extracted from beneath the Earth\u2019s crust. This heat originates from the Earth\u2019s core and heats underground rocks and water reservoirs. The naturally occurring steam and hot fluids can be used to generate electricity or for direct heating purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike solar and <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wind-energy\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>wind energy<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/geothermal-energy\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>geothermal energy<\/strong><\/a> is available continuously throughout the year, making it a reliable source of baseload renewable power.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Major Types of Geothermal Power Plants<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dry Steam Plant<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Uses natural steam directly from underground reservoirs to run turbines.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Flash Steam Plant<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Uses high-pressure hot water that converts into steam when pressure is reduced.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Binary Cycle Plant<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Uses geothermal heat to warm a secondary fluid with a lower boiling point, which then drives the turbine. This technology is suitable for moderate-temperature geothermal resources.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>India\u2019s Geothermal Energy Potential<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India possesses considerable geothermal potential due to its diverse geological and tectonic settings. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified several geothermal provinces across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Major Geothermal Provinces in India<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Himalayan Geothermal Province<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: This is India\u2019s most promising geothermal region extending across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. It lies along the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Important geothermal sites include: Puga Valley, Chumathang, Manikaran, Tapovan and Badrinath. Temperatures in some areas exceed 240\u00b0C, making them suitable for electricity generation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cambay Graben, Gujarat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Contains moderate-temperature geothermal reservoirs suitable mainly for direct-use applications.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>SONATA Lineament<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Son-Narmada-Tapi tectonic belt passes through Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra and contains several geothermal springs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Godavari Basin<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Located in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with low-to-medium temperature geothermal resources.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mahanadi Basin<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Located in Odisha and suitable mainly for heating and industrial applications.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Andaman and Nicobar Islands<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Part of a tectonically active volcanic arc with high geothermal gradients and strong future potential.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Significance of the Puga Thermal Power Project<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>India\u2019s First Geothermal Power Plant<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The project marks the beginning of commercial geothermal energy development in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reliable Baseload Renewable Energy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Unlike solar and wind energy, geothermal power is available continuously and can provide stable electricity supply.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Energy Security for Ladakh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Remote Himalayan regions face difficulties in conventional power supply. Geothermal energy can reduce dependence on diesel generators and imported fuels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Carbon Neutrality and Climate Goals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The project supports India\u2019s renewable energy transition and aligns with the vision of making Ladakh a carbon-neutral region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Development of Renewable Energy Hub<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Combined with solar energy projects, geothermal power can transform Ladakh into a major clean energy hub.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India\u2019s first geothermal power project in Ladakh aims to generate clean renewable energy from underground heat, boosting energy security and carbon neutrality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":105177,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[7747],"class_list":{"0":"post-105249","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-indias-first-geothermal-power-project-in-ladakh","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105249"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":105254,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105249\/revisions\/105254"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/105177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}