Arunachal Pradesh is actively exploring geothermal energy as a source of clean, reliable, and locally generated power for its remote and strategically sensitive border regions, Science and Technology Minister Dasanglu Pul said on Saturday, 3 October 2026. The state has identified geothermal potential of around 10–15 MW in the Mago-Thingbu belt of Tawang district, marking a significant step in the northeast's clean-energy ambitions.

Study Visit to Ladakh's Puga Valley

Minister Pul, accompanied by 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 geothermal exploration, drilling techniques, and clean-energy generation under high-altitude Himalayan conditions. The delegation sought to draw lessons directly applicable to Arunachal's terrain and climatic context.

'Arunachal Pradesh is blessed with immense natural resources, and our endeavour is to harness this potential responsibly for a sustainable future,' Pul said. She added that insights from the Puga project would directly strengthen the state's geothermal exploration efforts, particularly for border areas where grid connectivity remains a persistent challenge.

Scientific Investigations Already Underway

Scientific groundwork for this initiative has been building for several years. In March 2024, CESHS — in collaboration with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute and Iceland-based Geotropy — conducted field investigations and geological structural mapping of hot-spring sites at Mago, Thingbu, and nearby locations. The studies assessed geothermal resources for multiple applications, including electricity generation, heating and cooling, agricultural produce drying, and other locally suited clean-energy uses.

Subsequently, CESHS and government-owned Oil India Limited moved towards pre-feasibility studies covering surface and subsurface investigations at Mago, Thingbu, Damteng, and Tsechu in Tawang district. Field investigations have also been reported at five geothermal sites in Tawang — Damteng, Grengkhar, Mago, Thingbu, and Tsechu — where samples were collected for geochemical analysis.

Strategic Significance for Border Areas

The geothermal push carries clear strategic weight. Tawang district shares a sensitive border with China, and energy self-sufficiency in such regions reduces dependence on supply chains that remain vulnerable to geography and weather. Decentralised geothermal generation could power remote military outposts, villages, and infrastructure without the grid-extension costs that have historically plagued high-altitude areas in the northeast.

This comes amid a broader national push to develop border infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh, where the Centre has accelerated road, tunnel, and connectivity projects in recent years.

International Expertise and Next Steps

The involvement of international partners — Norway's Norwegian Geotechnical Institute and Iceland's Geotropy — underscores the technical complexity of high-altitude geothermal development. Iceland, which generates nearly 30% of its electricity from geothermal sources, is widely regarded as the global benchmark for this technology. Minister Pul also acknowledged ONGC and its execution partner SEROS for sharing technical expertise and field experience during the visit.

With pre-feasibility studies progressing and international collaboration in place, Arunachal Pradesh's geothermal programme is expected to move towards detailed project reports in the coming months — potentially making Tawang district the site of one of India's first operational high-altitude geothermal installations.