India’s first geothermal power plant moves closer after ONGC’s Puga breakthrough in Ladakh

The Union Territory of Ladakh on Wednesday moved a step closer to harnessing geothermal energy after the successful completion of India’s second geothermal well at Puga Valley by the ONGC, with Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra reviewing the landmark project and its roadmap for commercial power generation.

The milestone now 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’s chief secretary Ashish Kundra on Wednesday visited the ONGC Energy Centre’s Puga Geothermal Site 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 over 14,000 feet in about a 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 OEC’s pioneering geothermal programme in Puga Valley, from its inception to its recent historic milestones. Congratulating ONGC and OEC for advancing India’s geothermal energy mission, he 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 planned 1 MWe pilot power plant and the long-term vision for harnessing geothermal energy to strengthen Ladakh’s energy security through clean, reliable baseload power.

Officials said that at an altitude of over 14,000 feet in the demanding terrain of Puga Valley, ONGC Energy Centre has successfully drilled India’s second geothermal well to its target depth of 1,000 metres, in a record time of approximately 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, deeper understanding of Puga’s complex geology, and substantial reduction in drilling cost.

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.

For Ladakh, this breakthrough holds the promise of clean, reliable baseload power, stronger energy security, and sustainable regional development.