ONGC Limited, Maharatna Status PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has successfully drilled its second geothermal well in Ladakh’s Puga Valley, marking another milestone towards establishing India’s first 1 MW pilot geothermal power plant. The project is expected to unlock the country’s geothermal energy potential and support India’s transition to reliable, low-carbon renewable power.
Key Highlights
- ONGC completes drilling of its second geothermal well in Puga Valley, Ladakh.
- The well reached a depth of 1,000 metres at an altitude above 14,000 feet.
- The project will support India’s first 1 MW geothermal pilot power plant.
- Geothermal energy offers 24×7 clean, low-carbon and reliable electricity unlike weather-dependent renewables.
Public sector energy major ONGC has successfully completed drilling its second geothermal well in Ladakh’s Puga Valley, bringing India a step closer to harnessing geothermal energy for commercial electricity generation. The well was drilled by the ONGC Energy Centre to a depth of 1,000 metres in just about a month despite the challenging high-altitude terrain.
The latest drilling campaign follows the success of ONGC’s first geothermal well, which produced high-temperature steam, confirming the strong geothermal potential of the Puga geothermal field. The improved drilling timeline and lower execution cost also demonstrate the project’s growing technical maturity.
The newly drilled well will play a key role in developing India’s first 1-megawatt (MW) pilot geothermal power plant. Once operational, the pilot project is expected to validate the commercial viability of geothermal energy and lay the foundation for larger geothermal power projects in the future.
Located in eastern Ladakh, the Puga geothermal field is widely regarded as India’s most promising geothermal resource. Unlike solar and wind power, geothermal energy provides continuous round-the-clock electricity, making it a dependable source of clean energy that is not affected by changing weather conditions.
ONGC said the next phase of the project will focus on establishing the 1 MW pilot geothermal power plant while advancing long-term plans for commercial geothermal development. Reliable geothermal power could significantly improve energy security in remote Himalayan regions such as Ladakh.
The development also aligns with India’s clean energy ambitions. The country has increased its non-fossil fuel power capacity from 81 GW in 2014 to 288 GW, with significant growth in solar and wind energy, as it works towards achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
Conclusion
ONGC’s second geothermal well represents a major breakthrough for India’s renewable energy sector and could pave the way for the country’s first commercial geothermal power projects in the years ahead.
Excerpt
ONGC has drilled its second geothermal well in Ladakh’s Puga Valley, advancing plans for India’s first 1 MW geothermal pilot power plant and strengthening the country’s clean energy transition.
