ONGC Drills Second Geothermal Well in Ladakh

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) completed drilling its second geothermal well, Puga-OEC-GT#03, in Puga Valley in Ladakh around July 2026. The well was drilled by the ONGC Energy Centre to a depth of 1,000 metres at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is heat derived from the Earth’s interior and is used for electricity generation and direct heating. Geothermal power plants use steam or hot water from underground reservoirs, and the resource is classified as a renewable energy source.

Puga Valley Geothermal Field

Puga Valley in Ladakh is one of India’s known geothermal fields. Geothermometric studies in the valley have indicated subsurface temperatures above 240 degrees Celsius, a level suitable for geothermal power generation. The field is associated with hot springs and geothermal manifestations in the Himalayan region.

Project Features and Timeline

The drilling of Puga-OEC-GT#03 was completed in about one month. The project is linked to India’s first 1-megawatt electric pilot geothermal power plant in Puga Valley. Testing, evaluation, and commissioning of the pilot plant are planned during the 2026-27 financial year.

Institutional and Administrative Context

ONGC Energy Centre functions as the research and development arm of ONGC. In May 2026, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved a five-year extension of the Memorandum of Understanding with ONGC for the project, after the earlier agreement expired in February 2026.

Important Facts for Exams

• ONGC stands for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, a Maharatna public sector undertaking in India.
• Geothermal power plants can provide baseload electricity because underground heat is available continuously.
• Ladakh is a Union Territory of India and has high-altitude terrain suitable for specialised energy projects.
• India’s geothermal resources are found in regions such as Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the western coast.

The project aims to support round-the-clock electricity supply in Ladakh. The pilot geothermal power plant is planned at 1 MWe capacity.