India commissioned its first two 1,000-meter geothermal wells in the Puga Valley of Ladakh, a high-altitude region over 14,000 feet. The wells are part of a 1 MW pilot geothermal power project, the first of its kind in the country. Engineers recorded temperatures of 135 degrees Celsius at 400 meters depth and expect higher readings as testing continues. The project faced delays after an earlier tripartite agreement expired, but a renewed five-year memorandum of understanding got drilling back on track. The first well reached target depth in May 2026, and the second followed in early July. The initiative supports Ladakh's stated goal of becoming carbon-neutral and strengthens India's push into alternative baseload renewable energy sources. Geothermal offers round-the-clock power unlike solar or wind, making it a potentially critical piece for remote, off-grid regions. The next steps involve reservoir evaluation and planning for commercial-scale development. If successful, this pilot could open the door for broader geothermal deployment across the Himalayan belt.
