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Power Minister Manohar Lal Inaugurates COD of First Unit of NHPC’s 2000 MW Hydroelectric Project

Union Power Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated commercial operations of unit-2 (250 MW) of NHPC’s 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, with three more 250 MW units scheduled for commissioning soon. The remaining four units will be commissioned in a phased manner in 2026-27.

December 24, 2025. By Mrinmoy Dey

Union Power Minister Manohar Lal has inaugurated the commercial operation of unit–2 (250 MW) of NHPC’s 2000 MW (8×250 MW) Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric project through virtual mode.

The project is moving swiftly towards commissioning of 3 units of 250 MW each shortly, followed by phased commissioning of the remaining four units during 2026-27, stated the Ministry of Power, in a statement.

It further added that as India’s largest hydropower project, the Subansiri Lower Project comprises 8 units of 250 MW each and is designed as a Run-of-the-River scheme with small pondage, diverting water through eight Head Race Tunnels (HRTs) to generate 7,422 million units (MU) of renewable electricity annually. The project features the largest dam in North-East India, a 116-metre-high concrete gravity dam, which not only strengthens regional infrastructure and grid resilience but also enhances flood moderation and water management in the Subansiri River basin, it said.

The Power Minister stated that the commissioning of this unit is “not just a technical achievement, but a testament to years of hard work, dedication, and teamwork.” He further emphasised that the Subansiri Project stands as a symbol of India’s commitment to clean and sustainable energy, supporting North-East India’s growth, strengthening the national grid and advancing India’s ambitious Net Zero goals.

Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, lauded NHPC’s achievement, highlighting that the Subansiri Lower Project will greatly improve energy supply in the North-East and serve as a testament to India’s commitment to state-of-the-art, sustainable power systems. He emphasised timely commissioning of the remaining units, noting that the Subansiri Project will continue to play a pivotal role in India’s transition to a Net Zero energy future while generating substantial socio-economic benefits for local communities.

Bhupender Gupta, CMD, NHPC, stated that the project will strengthen the national grid, support sustainable development in the North-East and provide reliable renewable energy to meet growing demand.

Apart from supplying electricity to 16 beneficiary states across India, the Subansiri Lower H.E. Project will provide free power allocations to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, while the North-East region will receive 1,000 MW from the project, significantly strengthening regional energy availability.

“The Subansiri Lower H.E. Project exemplifies engineering excellence, featuring India’s heaviest hydro generator rotors, largest stators and biggest main inlet valves, along with innovations such as the nation’s largest aggregate processing plants, highest-capacity batching plant and first-ever use of Rotec’s Tower Belt for dam concreting in India. As the first cascaded dam on the Subansiri River, it provides flood moderation with a 442 million cubic metre flood cushion. With a gross reservoir storage of 1,365 million cubic metres at FRL, about one-third remains empty during floods to absorb excess water and protect downstream communities,” noted the statement.

It further added that NHPC has implemented extensive riverbank protection and erosion control measures along the Subansiri River, completing works up to 30 km downstream and extending them up to 60 km. with an investment of about INR 522 crore. This has effectively stabilised the riverbanks for over five years.

Over the last five decades, NHPC has successfully executed hydropower projects in some of the most challenging terrains and has diversified into solar, wind, and green hydrogen. NHPC current has an installed capacity of 8,333 MW from 30 power stations and 14 projects totalling 9,704 MW currently under construction.

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Hydropower

Manohar Lal

Power minister

Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project

Largest hydro projects in India

NHPC hydroelectric project

Pankaj Agrawal

Bhupender Gupta