Arunachal taps Earth’s heat: Northeast India’s first geothermal production well drilled in Dirang

Guwahati, May 6: In a historic leap toward clean energy in the Eastern Himalayas, the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS) has successfully drilled Northeast India’s first geothermal production well in Dirang, West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Described as a “first-of-its-kind” initiative in the region, the breakthrough comes after two years of intense geochemical and structural surveys across the hot springs of western Arunachal. “This is a major milestone in our sustainable energy journey,” said Rupankar Rajkhowa, who leads the geosciences division at CESHS.

Once operational, this geothermal well won’t just generate heat—it will transform life in high-altitude terrain. The clean energy source will soon be used for drying fruit, nuts, and meat, heating homes, and powering advanced storage systems critical for the region’s agriculture and cold-climate resilience.

The Centre for Earth Sciences & Himalayan Studies (CES&HS) in Itanagar, in collaboration with the Oslo-based Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) and Iceland-based company Geotropy, had embarked on a series of investigation studies from March 18 to 24, 2024. The ultimate goal was to demonstrate its utilisation across a spectrum of applications, including cold storage, drying agricultural products, heating and cooling of households, hotels, hospitals, water tourism, and future electricity production from green energy sources.

Backed by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Dirang project is a result of robust international collaboration involving Norway’s NGI (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute), Iceland-based geothermal company Geotropy ehf, and Guwahati Boring Service.

Scientific surveys have confirmed Dirang as a medium-to-high enthalpy geothermal zone, with reservoir temperatures estimated at 115°C—ideal for direct-use geothermal applications. Precise geological mapping near the Main Central Thrust allowed the team to access the resource with minimal environmental impact.

“This marks the beginning of a new era for clean energy in the Himalayas,” said CESHS Director Tana Tage. “It’s not just about energy—it’s about empowering communities and building climate resilience through science.”

With the first production well in place, CESHS is gearing up for deeper drilling, with the ambitious vision of making Dirang India’s first geothermal-powered town for space heating.

As the project progresses, the soon-to-be-operational geothermal drying and storage facilities are expected to set a national benchmark for sustainable innovation in remote and mountainous regions.

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