Dibrugarh: NHPC Limited has declared the successful commercial operation of the third unit of India’s largest hydropower project, the 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP), straddling the Arunachal Pradesh-Assam border, marking a significant step forward in the country’s clean energy ambitions.The newly commissioned unit — Unit 1 of 250 MW capacity — began commercial operation on Friday, injecting an additional 250 MW of clean hydropower into the National Grid. Its successful launch follows the completion of a trial run on Feb 27, which had served as a key precursor to full commercial operation.With this milestone, the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project has now achieved a cumulative operational capacity of 750 MW out of its total planned capacity of 2000 MW, which will eventually be generated through eight units of 250 MW each. The project, widely regarded as a crown jewel of India’s hydropower sector, is expected to play a transformative role in grid stabilisation, peak power supply, and the seamless integration of renewable energy into the national power network.NHPC Limited, a Navratna PSU under the ministry of power has been at the helm of executing the ambitious project that has been years in the making, navigating complex terrain, ecological challenges and logistical hurdles unique to the northeastern Himalayan frontier.Expressing his satisfaction at the achievement, Bhupender Gupta, chairperson and Managing Director of NHPC, extended his gratitude to key stakeholders.“The successful commissioning reflects NHPC’s strong technical expertise and execution capability and reinforces its pivotal role in enhancing national energy resilience in line with the Government of India’s vision of a sustainable and self-reliant power sector,” he said.Gupta also placed on record his appreciation for the ministry of power and the state governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam for their continued support throughout the project’s execution. He commended the Subansiri Lower Project team, led by executive director Rajendra Prasad, along with the contributions of various departments at NHPC’s corporate office for bringing this unit to fruition.Looking ahead, Gupta expressed optimism about the momentum the commissioning would generate. “I am confident that this achievement will facilitate the timely commissioning of the remaining units of the project,” he said, signalling that the push toward the full 2000 MW target is firmly on track.The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, once fully operational, will stand as a landmark achievement in India’s journey toward energy self-reliance, clean power expansion, and the broader goal of reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 — a target that places hydropower at the very heart of the nation’s energy transition strategy.
