Ladakh Geothermal Power Project: MoU Extended for 5 Years with ONGC at Puga Valley
LEH, LADAKH MAY 23 ,2026 — In a major boost to regional energy security, the extension of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has been approved for an additional five years to establish India’s first-ever geothermal power project at Puga Valley in Ladakh. Spearheaded by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, this pioneering initiative is situated at an altitude of over 14,000 feet. Under the extended agreement, ONGC will set up a 1 MWe pilot geothermal power plant, drill exploration wells up to a depth of 1,000 meters, and prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to pave the way for large-scale commercial exploitation of geothermal energy in the region.
Despite the exceptionally harsh Himalayan terrain and severe weather conditions, ONGC has already achieved a significant breakthrough by recording subsurface temperatures exceeding 240°C after drilling a well to a depth of 400 meters. This high thermal yield is considered highly adequate for sustainable, year-round power generation in the cold desert environment. Harnessing geothermal energy in the Puga Valley represents a major scientific milestone and a transformative reform for Ladakh’s local grid independence and environmental sustainability, aligning directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader national vision of aggressively tapping alternative and renewable energy sources.LEH, LADAKH — In a major boost to regional energy security, the extension of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has been approved for an additional five years to establish India’s first-ever geothermal power project at Puga Valley in Ladakh. Spearheaded by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, this pioneering initiative is situated at an altitude of over 14,000 feet. Under the extended agreement, ONGC will set up a 1 MWe pilot geothermal power plant, drill exploration wells up to a depth of 1,000 meters, and prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to pave the way for large-scale commercial exploitation of geothermal energy in the region.
Despite the exceptionally harsh Himalayan terrain and severe weather conditions, ONGC has already achieved a significant breakthrough by recording subsurface temperatures exceeding 240°C after drilling a well to a depth of 400 meters. This high thermal yield is considered highly adequate for sustainable, year-round power generation in the cold desert environment. Harnessing geothermal energy in the Puga Valley represents a major scientific milestone and a transformative reform for Ladakh’s local grid independence and environmental sustainability, aligning directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader national vision of aggressively tapping alternative and renewable energy sources.