Arunachal Pradesh Explores Geothermal Energy to Power Strategic Border Settlements

Arunachal Pradesh is evaluating geothermal resources to supply clean, localized power to remote Himalayan border areas, drawing insights from Ladakh's pilot project.

Arunachal Pradesh is actively evaluating the potential of geothermal energy to deliver clean, locally generated electricity to its most remote and strategically vital border outposts. State Science and Technology Minister Dasanglu Pul indicated that harnessing natural subterranean heat could provide a dependable power source for high-altitude frontier areas.

Learning from High-Altitude Operations in Ladakh
To understand the practical and technical requirements of harnessing subterranean steam, a specialized delegation visited the ONGC Geothermal Project located in Ladakh's Puga Valley. Led by Dasanglu Pul alongside Tana Tage, Director of the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS), and senior departmental geologists, the team inspected exploration techniques, deep drilling practices, and power generation systems operating in demanding Himalayan conditions. The operational data and technical findings gathered during this field trip will directly shape Arunachal Pradesh's geothermal development blueprint. Pul also expressed appreciation to ONGC and its execution partner SEROS for providing comprehensive technical guidance.

Evaluating 10-15 MW Potential in Tawang District
A primary focus of the exploration plan is the Mago-Thingbu belt situated in Tawang district, where experts estimate a potential geothermal power capacity of around 10 to 15 MW. Arunachal Pradesh has systematically researched its geothermal reservoirs over several years. In March 2024, CESHS collaborated with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute and Iceland-based firm Geotropy to carry out geological structural mapping and detailed field assessments across hot-spring zones in Mago, Thingbu, and adjoining belts.

Multi-Purpose Applications Beyond Electricity
The state's scientific investigations go beyond mere electricity grid support. Researchers are assessing how geothermal heat can provide direct space heating, cooling solutions, and drying mechanisms for local agricultural produce suited to mountain living conditions. Joint pre-feasibility assessments conducted by CESHS and Oil India Limited have covered both surface and subsurface evaluations across Damteng, Mago, Thingbu, and Tsechu. Furthermore, extensive geochemical sampling has been completed at five specific geothermal hubs in Tawang: Damteng, Grengkhar, Mago, Thingbu, and Tsechu.

 “Arunachal Pradesh is blessed with immense natural resources, and our endeavour is to harness this potential responsibly for a sustainable future.”
Pul emphasized that hands-on insights from the Puga installation will accelerate Arunachal Pradesh's roadmap to develop green, resilient energy infrastructure across isolated frontier communities.

What this means for you
Developing geothermal energy in Arunachal Pradesh's border highlands will bring uninterrupted, localized clean power to remote villages and strategic outposts.

• Across India: It demonstrates scalable clean energy solutions for high-altitude frontier states. This diversifies India's renewable portfolio beyond standard solar and hydro projects.
• In Arunachal Pradesh: Frontier villages in Tawang can gain reliable year-round electricity and space heating. This will significantly reduce dependence on transported fossil fuels during harsh winters.
• For Local Agriculture: Direct geothermal heat can be used for drying local farm produce and post-harvest processing. This supports farming communities with cost-effective, low-carbon processing tools.
• For Border Infrastructure: Strategically situated border outposts will have dependable on-site power generation. It reinforces regional energy resilience in challenging geographical terrains.

Why this happened
Arunachal Pradesh's rugged border areas face extreme climate conditions and grid connectivity hurdles, necessitating self-sustaining and decentralized clean energy solutions.

• Challenging Terrain and Logistics: Laying and maintaining conventional electricity transmission lines across high-altitude frontier passes is costly and prone to seasonal disruptions. Geothermal energy offers a reliable, localized subterranean alternative.
• Precedent from Ladakh's Puga Valley: ONGC's deep-drilling and geothermal exploration at high altitudes in Ladakh proved the technical viability of Himalayan geothermal power, providing a working template for Arunachal Pradesh.
• Encouraging Preliminary Field Studies: Structural geological mapping in March 2024 and joint feasibility investigations with Oil India confirmed actionable thermal reservoirs across five key locations in Tawang district.

Questions & Answers

1. Which regions in Arunachal Pradesh are being assessed for geothermal power?
Key locations in Tawang district include the Mago-Thingbu belt, Damteng, Grengkhar, and Tsechu.

2. What is the estimated geothermal capacity of the Mago-Thingbu belt?
Initial studies estimate a geothermal energy potential of approximately 10 to 15 MW in the Mago-Thingbu area.

3. Which high-altitude geothermal project did the Arunachal delegation visit?
The delegation visited ONGC's geothermal exploration project situated in Ladakh's Puga Valley.

4. How can geothermal energy be utilized beyond electricity generation?
It can provide space heating and cooling for settlements and direct thermal energy for drying agricultural crops.

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