UT Administration, LAHDC Leh and ONGC sign a tripartite MoU to establish the first ever geothermal field development project in India at Puga, Ladakh
A historic tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)for establishing the first ever Geothermal Field Development Project in India, at PugaLeh was signed today at Leh between UT Administration Ladakh, LAHDC-Leh and ONGC Energy centre in presence of LG UT Ladakh Radha Krishna Mathur, CEC LAHDC-Leh Advocate Tashi Gyalson, MP ShJamyang Tsering Namgyal and Advisor to HLG Umang Narula.
On behalf of UT Administration Ladakh, Ravinder Kumar, Administrative Secretary PDD and on behalf of LAHDC Leh, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, Chief Executive Officer, LAHDC-Leh signed the MOU with ONGC Energy centre.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt. Governor said that Ladakh is blessed with a rich bounty of potential resources. He said that 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 LG emphasized on the need to study and learn from other countries about developing tourism and greenhouses around the geo-thermal project.
LG Mathur lauded the efforts put in by the CEC, LAHDC, Leh and his team in evolving the MoU with ONGC and initiating the geo-thermal project. He thanked ONGC Energy Centre for commencing the geo-thermal project in Ladakh and urged them to execute it at the earliest and ramp it up to 200 MW capacity for greater benefit.
Director General, ONGC Energy Centre Dr Sanjeev S Katti while giving a brief description about the pilot project informed that energy from this project will give 24×7 power supplies and the hot water from the spring could be used for space-heating and establishing hot swimming pools to attract tourists.
Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal thanked LG for helping Ladakh enter a new era of development and stressed on advocating ‘Vocal for Local’ concept for making Ladakh a self-sustainable region.CEC, LAHDC, LehTashiGyalson called the signing of the MoU a historic moment for Ladakh and said that this project would increase job opportunities and tourism in the region.
In Phase 1 of this pilot project, 1MW Power generation capacity shall be generated and 100 % free power shall be supplied to the general public. ONGC-OEC is the implementing agency for this Pilot Project. Phase 2, shall involve deeper and lateral exploration of geothermal reservoir by drilling optimal number of wells and setting up of a higher capacity demo plant in Ladakh. Phase 3 shall be commercial project as per discovered capacity.
The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the first Developmental Conclave held at Leh.