Ladakh’s Puga region sees rapid progress as ONGC wraps up new well

New Delhi, July 12 – In a significant step toward harnessing geothermal power, ONGC announced the completion of drilling its second geothermal well in the Puga valley of eastern Ladakh. The borehole reaches a depth of 1 km and sits at an altitude exceeding 14,000 feet.

The drilling, carried out by ONGC Energy Centre, took less than a month and was achieved at a reduced cost relative to the first drilling initiative. The agency highlighted that the earlier well produced high‑temperature steam, confirming the geothermal gradient in the area.

Officials say the new well will supply the upcoming 1 MW pilot geothermal power plant, intended to be the country’s inaugural geothermal electricity facility. If the pilot proves viable, it could unlock a commercial pathway for geothermal energy across India’s mountainous regions.

The Puga geothermal field is regarded as the nation’s most viable heat‑resource zone, yet commercial exploitation has been stalled by technical and economic hurdles. This development could help overcome those barriers by demonstrating cost‑effective drilling and resource extraction.

India continues its aggressive renewable‑energy drive, having lifted non‑fossil capacity from 81 GW in 2014 to 288 GW now, with solar and wind capacities also seeing steep growth. The Ladakh project adds a new dimension to the country’s clean‑energy portfolio.