The 1,000-metre-deep wells, drilled at over 14,000 feet by ONGC Energy Centre, are expected to advance Ladakh’s goal of becoming a carbon-neutral region.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, July 17: India on Thursday achieved a major milestone in its clean energy ambitions with the commissioning of the country’s first and deepest geothermal wells in Ladakh’s Puga Valley, a breakthrough expected to accelerate the development of India’s first geothermal power plant.
Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena inaugurated the two 1,000-metre-deep wells, drilled by the ONGC Energy Centre at an altitude of over 14,000 feet. The project marks a significant step towards transforming Ladakh into a renewable energy hub and advancing the Centre’s vision of making the Union Territory carbon neutral.
The newly commissioned wells will supply crucial data and geothermal resources for the proposed 1 MW pilot geothermal power project at Puga, India’s first demonstration-scale geothermal power initiative.
Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena unveiled the commemorative plaque and graced the ceremony marking the successful completion of geothermal wells GT#02 and GT#03 by #ONGC Energy Centre at Puga Valley.
The occasion was attended by Shri Himanshu Gupta,… pic.twitter.com/5B2r9boBzi
— Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) (@ONGC_) July 17, 2026
The project had remained stalled after the expiry of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among the Ladakh Administration, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, and the ONGC Energy Centre. The initiative was revived after the MoU was renewed for another five years in June this year following the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Saxena, allowing drilling operations to resume and reach completion.
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According to project engineers, temperatures of up to 135 degrees Celsius have already been recorded at a depth of 400 metres. Further testing is underway, with officials optimistic that even higher temperatures at greater depths will be sufficient to operate the planned pilot power plant and support future commercial-scale geothermal energy production.
The drilling campaign was carried out under some of the world’s harshest conditions, including sub-zero temperatures, rugged Himalayan terrain, an altitude exceeding 14,000 feet, and a narrow annual construction window. Despite these challenges, the first well reached its target depth of 1,000 metres on May 22, 2026, while the second well, spudded on June 3, was completed in a record five weeks on July 8.
Describing the achievement as a landmark in India’s clean energy journey, Saxena said the geothermal project would become a catalyst for Ladakh’s long-term development.
“This geothermal power project will strengthen energy security, promote environmental sustainability and accelerate socio-economic development in Ladakh. The success achieved in Puga Valley will serve as a blueprint for India’s journey towards net-zero emissions,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also commended the ONGC engineers and technical teams for executing one of the country’s most challenging drilling projects and praised the workers for their perseverance in the difficult high-altitude environment.
Once operational, the Puga geothermal project is expected to demonstrate the viability of geothermal energy as a dependable, round-the-clock renewable power source in India, reducing dependence on fossil fuels while supporting the country’s broader clean energy transition.
