India’s quest for clean and reliable geothermal energy has taken a significant step forward with the completion of the country’s second geothermal well in Ladakh’s Puga Valley, a breakthrough expected to accelerate the establishment of the nation’s first geothermal power plant being developed by ONGC.
The milestone 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.
Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra on Wednesday visited the ONGC Energy Centre’s (OEC) Puga Geothermal Project following the successful completion of the well.
Officials informed the Chief Secretary that the newly completed 1,000-metre-deep well, drilled at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet in approximately one month, represents a significant technological advancement over India’s first geothermal drilling campaign. The project is expected to lead to the country’s first 1 MWe geothermal pilot power plant.
He was briefed on the OEC’s pioneering geothermal programme in Puga Valley, from its inception to its recent historic milestones. Congratulating ONGC and the OEC for advancing India’s geothermal energy mission, Kundra conveyed his best wishes for future exploration and development across other prospective geothermal provinces of the country.
Discussions also focused on the future roadmap for the Puga Geothermal Project, including the proposed 1 MWe pilot power plant and the long-term vision of harnessing geothermal energy to strengthen Ladakh’s energy security through clean and reliable baseload power.
Officials said that despite the challenging terrain of Puga Valley at an altitude of over 14,000 feet, the ONGC Energy Centre successfully drilled India’s second geothermal well to its target depth of 1,000 metres in a record time of about one month.
Building on the success of India’s first geothermal drilling campaign, the achievement marks a major leap in technical capability, with significantly optimised drilling operations, a deeper understanding of Puga’s complex geology, and a substantial reduction in drilling costs.
The OEC’s first geothermal well had earlier produced steam above the boiling point, firmly establishing the viability of Puga’s geothermal resources for sustainable power generation and placing India on the global geothermal map.
Officials said the latest breakthrough holds the promise of clean, reliable baseload power, enhanced energy security, and sustainable regional development for Ladakh.