Uttarakhand, India signs MOU with Icelandic consultancy for geothermal exploration
Signing of MoU for geothermal exploration and development between Verkis and the Government of Uttarakhand, India (source: Embassy of Iceland in New Delhi)
Carlo Cariaga
17 Jan 2025
The Government of Uttarkhand in Northern India has signed an MOU with Icelandic company Verkis for geothermal exploration and development in the state.
The Government of the State of Uttarakhand in Northern India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Icelandic company Verkis Consulting Engineers (Verkis) for geothermal exploration and development. The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Dhami and Icelandic Ambassador Dr Benedict Hoskulsson, with Chief Minisiter Pushkar Singh Dhami participating virtually.
About 40 geothermal sites had already been identified in Uttarakhand based on studies done by the Geological Survey of India and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology.
Pushkar Singh Dhami remarked that the MoU represents progress in both India’s efforts to develop clean and renewable energy, as well as ensuring inclusive development alongside environmental security. He also said that there had been no objections on the proposed project from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and the Ministry of External Affairs.
All costs incurred during the feasibility study will be borne by the Government of Iceland.
Iceland and India continue to strengthen their cooperation in the field of renewable and geothermal energy with this MoU. In the nearby state of Himachal Pradesh, facilities for geothermal-powered drying and controlled atmosphere storage have been established with the help of Icelandic company Geotropy. There is also plenty of work being done to explore for geothermal resources in the Arunachal Pradesh and Assam regions.
Source: Avikal Uttarakhand and Embassy of Iceland in New Delhi
