Guwahati: NHPC Limited, a Navratna public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Power, has achieved two major milestones at its 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, marking a significant boost to India’s clean energy capacity.
During the intervening night of January 31 and February 1, 2026, the project successfully synchronised its third unit with the national grid and commenced commercial operations of another unit, together adding 500 MW of hydropower to the grid.
The first milestone was achieved at 9 pm on January 31 with the successful synchronisation of Unit-1 (250 MW) with the national grid. This was followed by the commercial operation of Unit-3 (250 MW) at midnight on February 1. With these additions, the Subansiri Lower project has now contributed 500 MW of its total planned capacity of 2,000 MW.
NHPC officials said the development strengthens India’s energy security and grid stability while supporting the integration of renewable energy into the national power mix. Hydropower from the project is expected to play a key role in meeting peak power demand and balancing variable renewable sources.
NHPC Chairman and Managing Director Bhupender Gupta thanked the Ministry of Power and the governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam for their support. He also lauded the efforts of the Subansiri Lower project team, led by Executive Director Rajendra Prasad, and NHPC officials at the corporate office.
Gupta said the successful commissioning of the units reflects NHPC’s technical expertise and execution capabilities, and aligns with the government’s vision of a sustainable and self-reliant power sector. He added that the achievement would help ensure the timely commissioning of the remaining units of the project.
NHPC Director (Projects) Sanjay Kumar Singh congratulated the site and corporate teams for meeting the milestones, while Executive Director Rajendra Prasad acknowledged the contribution of executing agencies, including GE Vernova, BGS-SGS-SOMA, TREL and PEL, as well as local stakeholders and communities.
The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project is one of the largest hydroelectric projects in India and is considered critical for the long-term energy needs of the Northeast and the country.