Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh is examining the potential of geothermal energy as a clean, locally generated power source — particularly for remote and strategically located border areas, Science and Technology Minister Dasanglu Pul said recently.
Pul, along with Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS) Director Tana Tage and departmental geologists, visited the ONGC Geothermal Project at Puga Valley in Ladakh to study exploration, drilling and power generation in high-altitude Himalayan conditions.
Mago-Thingbu belt identified
The Mago-Thingbu belt in Tawang district has been identified as a promising zone, with the state estimating a geothermal generation potential of around 10–15 MW.
Scientific investigations have been underway for years. In March 2024, CESHS, in collaboration with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute and Iceland-based Geotropy, conducted field investigations and geological mapping at hot-spring sites in Mago, Thingbu and other areas. CESHS and Oil India later began pre-feasibility studies at Mago, Thingbu, Damteng and Tsechu, with geochemical sampling at five sites.
Beyond electricity
The studies are assessing geothermal resources not just for power generation but also for heating and cooling, drying agricultural produce and other locally appropriate clean-energy uses.
“Arunachal Pradesh is blessed with immense natural resources, and our endeavour is to harness this potential responsibly for a sustainable future,” Pul said, adding that insights from the Puga project would help the state’s efforts in remote and border regions where conventional power infrastructure is challenging.
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