Puga Valley Geothermal Project

Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor approves a five-year extension to the MoU with ONGC for setting up a geothermal power plant in Puga Valley. The project is for pilot geothermal power generation and commercial exploitation of geothermal resources in Ladakh.

Geothermal Energy in Ladakh:

Dimension	Key Details
MoU Extension	Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor has approved a five-year extension to the MoU with ONGC.
Project Location	The geothermal power plant is to be set up in Puga Valley at an altitude of 14,000 feet.
Pilot Plant	ONGC will establish a 1-MWe pilot geothermal power plant under the revised MoU.
DPR	ONGC will prepare a detailed project report for large-scale commercial exploitation of geothermal resources in Ladakh.
Geothermal Energy	Geothermal energy harnesses heat stored within Earth’s crust.
Geothermal System	A geothermal system comprises production and reinjection wells, pumps, pipelines, heat exchangers, and end-use applications.
High-Enthalpy Resources	High-enthalpy resources comprise volcanic regions, geysers, and hot springs and are mainly used for electricity generation.
Low-to-Medium Enthalpy Resources	Low-to-medium enthalpy resources comprise hot rocks and shallow ground layers and are used for heating, cooling, agri-food, and aquaculture applications.
Hot Springs	The Geological Survey of India has identified 381 hot springs with surface temperatures ranging from 35°C to 89°C.
Geothermal Provinces	The Geological Survey of India has identified 10 geothermal provinces in India, including the Himalayan Geothermal Province and Andaman Nicobar Islands.
Power Potential	India’s geothermal power potential is estimated at about 10,600 MW.
Promising Areas	Puga and Chumathang are among the most promising geothermal areas in India.
National Policy	The National Policy on Geothermal Energy, 2025 provides for geothermal energy as a major pillar of India’s renewable energy landscape.
Policy Linkage	The policy supports India’s 2070 Net Zero goal and energy security.