Plans revealed for India’s first geothermal field development project in Ladakh
City of Leh, Ladakh/ India (source: flickr/ Michael Goodine, creative commons)
The local government of Leh, Ladakh in India has signed an MOU with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Energy Centre on the development of a geothermal project with the potential of up to 200 MW development.
A historic agreement has been signed in Ladakh, India for the establishment of India’s first-ever geothermal field development project. This was reported this weekend from Leh, the capital of Ladakh with Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur describing it as a step towards achieving the goal of carbon-neutral Ladakh.
Partners of the agreement are the Union Territory Administration Ladakh, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Leh and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Energy Centre. The signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) foresees the development of a project, with Phase 1 seeing the development of 1 MW plant with ONGC Energy Centre is the implementing agency for this pilot project.
The 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, while Phase-3 shall be a commercial project as per discovered capacity, the spokesperson said, so The Telegraph from India.
“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.
There is further opportunity in utilising geothermal energy for tourism development and greenhouses in proximity to the geothermal plant, which could increase the value provided to the local economy. Apart from power provided 24/7, space heating and hot swimming pools are potential add-ons.
The parties believe in development of up to 200 MW going forward.
Source: The Telegraph India