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India's Power Milestone: NHPC Launches 2nd Unit of Massive Subansiri Dam

NHPC is set to flip the switch on the second power unit of its massive Subansiri dam project. This 250 MW unit marks another step toward the project's full 2000 MW capacity. Once all eight units are running, it will officially become the country's largest hydroelectric power station. The project is a run-of-river scheme, which is designed to have a lower environmental footprint.

Key Points: NHPC Subansiri Project 2nd Unit Commercial Operations Start Dec 23

  • Second 250 MW unit begins power generation at midnight on December 23, 2025
  • Project is run-of-river design to minimize environmental impact at Gerukamukh site
  • Once complete, the eight-unit facility will be India's largest hydroelectric station
  • The massive project represents an estimated investment of around Rs 27,000 crore
2 min read

NHPC to start commercial operations of Subansiri Project's 2nd unit on Dec 23

NHPC announces the commercial start of the 250 MW second unit at the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, a key step toward India's largest 2000 MW dam.

"NHPC Limited declares Commercial Operation (CoD) of Unit 2 (250 MW) of Subansiri Lower HE Project... from 00:00 hours on 23.12.2025 - NHPC Exchange Filing"

New Delhi, Dec 21

State-owned power producer NHPC on Sunday announced that it will begin commercial operations of the second unit of the 2, 000 megawatt Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project from Tuesday.

The company announced that Unit-2, with a capacity of 250 MW, will start commercial generation from midnight on December 23, 2025.

In an exchange filing, NHPC said it has declared the commercial operation of the second unit of the Subansiri Lower project, which is being developed at an estimated cost of around Rs 27,000 crore.

The project is being executed under the Ministry of Power. The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project is located at Gerukamukh near North Lakhimpur, along the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

“It is to inform that after successful completion of trial run, NHPC Limited declares Commercial Operation (CoD) of Unit 2 (250 MW) of Subansiri Lower HE Project, 2000 MW (8 x 250 MW), Assam/Arunachal Pradesh from 00:00 hours on 23.12.2025,” NHPC said in its exchange filing.

“The COD of balance units of Subansiri Lower HE Project will be intimated in due course,” it added.

Once fully commissioned, it will be the largest hydroelectric power station in the country, with an installed capacity of 2,000 MW through eight units of 250 MW each.

The project is a run-of-the-river scheme with water storage on the Subansiri river.

NHPC has said that this design helps harness the river’s natural flow while keeping environmental impact lower compared to large reservoir-based projects.

NHPC Director (Projects) Sanjay Kumar Singh visited the project site to oversee the start of commercial operations of Unit-2.

During his visit, he reviewed key structures such as the main dam, diversion tunnel and spillway, and held discussions with contractors and other stakeholders to assess pending work.

Earlier this month, the first 250 MW unit of the project was successfully test-synchronised with India’s national power grid on December 3, indicating that the project is steadily moving towards full-scale operations.

According to NHPC, the project is expected to generate around 7,421.59 million units of electricity in a year with 90 per cent dependability.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see progress. But a project cost of ₹27,000 crore is huge. I hope there is complete transparency in spending and no delays for the remaining units. The run-of-the-river design is a positive step for the environment.
R
Rohit P
Finally! This project has been in the news for years, facing delays. Seeing the second unit go live is a relief. 7,421 million units per year is a significant contribution to the national grid. Kudos to the engineers and workers on site.
M
Meera T
As someone from the region, I just hope the local communities are benefiting from this development - jobs, infrastructure, and fair compensation for any land used. Hydro power is clean, but its social impact must be managed carefully.
D
David E
Impressive engineering feat. Harnessing the Subansiri river's flow for 2000 MW is a smart move towards renewable energy targets. Hope the "lower environmental impact" claim holds true in the long-term ecological studies.
S
Siddharth J
Great step for aatmanirbhar Bharat in the power sector! We need more such hydro projects, especially in the Himalayan states. This reduces our dependence on imported coal and fossil fuels. Let's get the other 6 units online soon!

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