India's first geothermal wells commissioned in Puga Valley, Ladakh.
NEW DELHI: In a significant boost to India’s clean energy ambitions, the Ladakh administration has commissioned the country’s first and deepest geothermal wells in the remote Puga Valley.
The two wells, drilled to a depth of 1,000 metres each at an altitude exceeding 14,000 feet, mark a historic milestone for geothermal energy development in India.
Pathway to India’s First Geothermal Power Plant
The two wells are critical for the successful implementation of a 1 MW pilot geothermal power project at Puga, which will be India’s first demonstration-scale geothermal power facility.
Once operational, the project is expected to provide reliable, weather-independent baseload power to the region, supporting local communities, security forces, and industrial needs while reducing dependence on costly diesel-based energy.
Project engineers have already recorded encouraging results, with a maximum temperature of 135°C measured at a depth of 400 metres. Further testing is underway, with hopes of encountering even higher temperatures suitable for sustained power generation.
Overcoming Extreme Challenges
The achievement is particularly noteworthy given the extreme operating environment. Puga Valley presents harsh weather, rugged terrain, limited working seasons, intense geothermal activity, and complex subsurface geological conditions.
Despite these obstacles, the first well reached its target depth on May 22, 2026. The second well was spudded on June 3 and successfully completed on July 8, 2026, a record turnaround of just over a month.
The wells were executed by the ONGC Energy Centre. The project had earlier faced delays following the expiry of a tripartite MoU between the Ladakh Administration, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (Leh), and ONGC Energy Centre. LG Saxena personally intervened to renew the agreement for another five years in June 2026, enabling work to resume.
Strategic Importance for Energy Security and Sustainability
Lt Governor Saxena hailed the development as a catalyst for Ladakh’s holistic growth. “This geothermal power project would act as a catalyst for Ladakh’s holistic development. Beyond its scientific significance, this initiative will strengthen Ladakh’s energy security, promote environmental sustainability, and contribute to regional socio-economic development,” he said. He added that the success in Puga Valley would serve as a blueprint for India’s broader net-zero journey.
Geothermal energy offers a stable, renewable baseload alternative that is not dependent on sunlight or wind, making it particularly valuable for high-altitude and remote regions like Ladakh. Successful scaling of the project could unlock further geothermal potential across the region, supporting India’s clean energy transition and energy security goals.
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