Ladakh: In a significant boost to India’s renewable energy ambitions, the ONGC Energy Centre has successfully completed the drilling of two geothermal wells—GT#02 and GT#03—at the Puga Valley in Ladakh, marking a major milestone in the country’s indigenous geothermal energy programme.
The achievement was commemorated with the unveiling of a plaque by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, who graced the ceremony celebrating the successful completion of the wells.
The event was attended by Shri Himanshu Gupta, IAS, Administrative Secretary, Power Development Department; Ms Shashanka Ala, IAS, Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor; Shri Nitish Rajora, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Changthang; along with senior officials of the Union Territory Administration and ONGC. The ONGC delegation was led by Director (Technology & Field Services), Shri Vikram Saxena.
The two geothermal wells have been drilled to a depth of 1,000 metres each at an altitude of over 14,000 feet, showcasing India’s growing expertise in geothermal exploration under some of the world’s most challenging geological and climatic conditions.
The successful completion of the wells lays the foundation for the proposed 1 MWe pilot geothermal power plant at Puga, which is envisioned to become India’s first demonstration-scale geothermal power project. The project is expected to demonstrate the commercial viability of geothermal energy as a reliable, clean, and round-the-clock renewable power source.
The Puga Geothermal Project represents a significant step towards harnessing indigenous geothermal resources and strengthening India’s energy diversification efforts. Once operational, the pilot plant is expected to support sustainable energy development in the remote Himalayan region while contributing to national energy security, technological self-reliance, and the country’s clean energy transition.
The milestone also reinforces ONGC’s expanding role beyond conventional hydrocarbons into emerging renewable energy technologies, aligning with India’s long-term net-zero and sustainable development goals.
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