India’s first geo-thermal project will be set up in Puga, a village in eastern Ladakh, the site has long been identified as hotspot for geo-thermal energy.
A tripartite agreement is signed between, Union Territory of Ladakh, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), and Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), the agreement was signed in presence of Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur and Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Member of Parliament, Ladakh.
“The signing of the MoU with ONGC for the first geothermal project in India is a promising initiative towards innovative and sustainable development of Ladakh and also a step towards achieving the goal of carbon-neutral Ladakh,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Governor Mathur also termed this as historic step towards carbon neutral Ladakh.
In phase-1 of the pilot project, 1 megawatt power will be generated, which will be distributed to public free of cost, and ONGC will establish an agency to overlook the execution of phase-1.
Phase-2 of the project will be further exploration of geo-thermal reservoirs, drilling geo-thermal wells and expanding capacity of geo-thermal project, and phase-3 will look in commercialisation of project depending on achieved capacity in phase-1 and 2.
Governor Mathur thanked ONGC efforts in commencing the project, and urged earliest execution of project for benefit of people, and achieve 400 MW capacity to fulfil demand and protentional.
Sanjeev S Katti, Director-General of ONGC energy said, this project will give round the clock energy to, and hot water springs can be used for heating and establishing spring pools to attract tourists.
MP Namgyal thanked Governor Mathur for signing the agreement, letting Ladakh enter a new era pf development, he also emphasised on “Vocal for Local” concept in Ladakh, make it self-sustainable region.
Governor Mathur also said, Government is learning from successful examples from different countries, regarding energy development, tourism and green house projects using geo-thermal energy.