Inauguration of Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project's Unit 2 Marks a Milestone in Renewable Energy

The inauguration of Unit 2 of the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project marks a significant milestone in India's renewable energy efforts. Union Minister Manohar Lal emphasized the project's role in supporting Northeast India's growth and enhancing the national grid. With a total capacity of 2,000 MW, this project is set to contribute significantly to India's clean energy goals. The initiative not only promises to improve energy supply but also aims to foster socioeconomic development in local communities. As the project progresses, it is expected to create new job opportunities and promote sustainable practices in the region, making it a cornerstone of India's energy future.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 24, 2025, 09:13 IST

Significant Step Towards Sustainable Energy

New Delhi, Dec 24: On Tuesday, Union Minister of Power, Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, virtually inaugurated the commercial operations of Unit 2 of the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project from New Delhi.

During the inauguration, Manohar highlighted that the commissioning of this unit represents not only a technical milestone but also reflects years of dedication and teamwork. He emphasized that the Subansiri project symbolizes India's commitment to clean and sustainable energy, aiding the development of Northeast India, enhancing the national grid, and supporting the country's ambitious 'Net Zero' objectives.

The event saw participation from Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary (Power), Bhupender Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of NHPC, along with other senior officials from the Ministry of Power and NHPC.

Agarwal noted that the Subansiri project will significantly enhance energy supply in the Northeast and exemplifies India's dedication to advanced, sustainable power systems.

He stressed the importance of timely commissioning of the remaining units, asserting that the Subansiri project will be crucial in India's transition to a 'Net Zero' energy future while providing substantial socioeconomic benefits to local communities.

Gupta added that the project will bolster the national grid, promote sustainable development in the Northeast, and deliver reliable renewable energy to meet increasing demand.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Power mentioned that with the launch of Unit 2, the project is progressing towards the commissioning of three additional units of 250 MW each soon, followed by the phased commissioning of the remaining four units in 2026-27.

Once fully operational, the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project is expected to make a considerable contribution to India's renewable energy capacity, enhance the resilience of the national grid, and usher in a new era of large-scale clean energy generation.

This hydropower project, the largest in India, consists of eight units of 250 MW each and is designed as a run-of-the-river scheme with minimal pondage. It channels water through eight head race tunnels to produce 7,422 million units of renewable electricity annually.

The project features the tallest dam in Northeast India, a 116-meter-high concrete gravity dam, which not only strengthens regional infrastructure and grid resilience but also improves flood management and water control in the Subansiri river basin.

As the first cascaded dam on the Subansiri river, it provides flood moderation with a cushion of 442 million cubic meters. The gross reservoir storage capacity is 1,365 million cubic meters at full level, with about one-third remaining unfilled during floods to absorb excess water and safeguard downstream communities.

The NHPC has undertaken extensive riverbank protection and erosion control initiatives along the Subansiri river, completing works up to 30 km downstream and extending to 60 km, with an investment of approximately Rs 522 crore. These efforts have effectively stabilized the riverbanks for over five years.

Additionally, NHPC is fostering community development downstream through livelihood programs in piggery, sericulture, and handloom, developed in collaboration with IRMA. These initiatives, now operational, benefit around 5,000 women farmers and promote sustainable socioeconomic growth in the region.

Besides supplying electricity to 16 beneficiary states, the Subansiri project will allocate free power to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The northeastern region will receive 1,000 MW from the project, significantly enhancing regional energy availability.

During its construction phase, the project employed around 7,000 local individuals daily and created numerous direct and indirect job opportunities through contractors, service providers, and local markets.

With the project's commissioning and the availability of continuous power, new small-scale industries are anticipated to emerge, expanding employment and business prospects while helping to reduce out-migration. The project is also expected to boost tourism and improve river navigation, contributing to long-term regional development and prosperity.

A Correspondent