MNRE Highlights International Cooperation To Boost India’s Geothermal Sector

New Delhi, Dec 8 (KNN) The Government is strengthening global partnerships to accelerate the growth of geothermal energy in India, said Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik on Monday.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister said the recently notified National Policy on Geothermal Energy issued on 15 September 2025 promotes bilateral and multilateral technology cooperation, knowledge sharing, and joint R&D to adapt proven international geothermal technologies to Indian conditions.

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) currently has cooperation mechanisms with Australia, Iceland, Saudi Arabia and the United States to support geothermal development. 

According to the Geothermal Atlas (2022) published by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), India’s theoretical geothermal resource potential stands at an estimated 10,600 MW.

The GSI has mapped 381 hot springs across the country, of which 42 geothermal manifestations have been identified as promising sites for power generation and direct heat applications. 

These locations have been designated as priority areas for further exploration and development under the National Policy.

The policy also highlights opportunities to repurpose abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal energy recovery. 

It provides technical guidance, encourages pilot demonstrations and offers regulatory support for converting suitable wells into geothermal production assets. 

As part of this initiative, an R&D project has been approved for IIT Madras to study geothermal extraction from abandoned oil wells.

(KNN Bureau)