Project Milestone

ONGC Energy Centre has successfully completed two deep geothermal wells (GT#02 and GT#03) at the Puga Geothermal Project site. The Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark this achievement.

Strategic Significance

This milestone advances the development of India's first demonstration-scale geothermal power project at Puga. The project aims to provide clean, dependable, and round-the-clock energy for the Ladakh region, which is particularly important for reliable power availability during severe winters.

Applications and Benefits

Beyond electricity generation, the geothermal energy project has potential applications in:

  • Space heating
  • Greenhouse cultivation
  • Year-round agriculture
  • Food processing
  • Geotourism
  • Sustainable livelihoods

These applications are expected to contribute significantly to Ladakh's socio-economic development and support its aspiration to emerge as a carbon-neutral region.

National Impact

At the national level, the project:

  • Strengthens India's clean-energy portfolio
  • Advances technological self-reliance
  • Supports the country's long-term energy-security objectives
  • Contributes to Net Zero goals

Collaboration Structure

The initiative is being advanced through a joint collaboration between:

  • ONGC Energy Centre
  • UT Administration of Ladakh
  • LAHDC-Leh

The collaboration was renewed for a five-year period in June 2026.

Key Attendees

The event was attended by:

  • Administrative Secretary Shri Himanshu Gupta, IAS
  • Secretary to the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor Ms Shashanka Ala, IAS
  • Deputy Commissioner, Changthang, Shri Nitish Rajora
  • Superintendent of Police, Changthang, Shri Abbas Jaffari

Leadership Commentary

The Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor highlighted the project's national and regional significance and commended the ONGC Energy Centre team. Representing ONGC, Director (Technology and Field Services) Shri Vikram Saxena stated that the achievement reaffirms ONGC's commitment to innovation, energy security, and a sustainable future for Ladakh and India.