lTANAGAR, Mar 20: NHPC Limited, a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Power, has declared the commercial operation of the third unit (Unit #1 of 250 MW) of India’s largest hydropower project—the 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project located along Arunachal Pradesh-Assam boundary.
"The unit commenced commercial operations at midnight on March 20, 2026, adding 250 MW of clean hydropower to the national grid," stated an NHPC release.
With the commissioning of this unit, the Subansiri Lower Project has now achieved a total operational capacity of 750 MW out of its planned 2000 MW (8×250 MW), further enhancing grid stability, providing peak power support and facilitating the integration of renewable energy into the national grid.
Prior to commercial operation, the trial run of the unit was successfully completed on February 27, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress, the company said.
On the occasion, NHPC Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Bhupender Gupta expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Power and the governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam for their continued support. He also commended the efforts of the project team led by Executive Director Rajendra Prasad, along with contributions from various departments at NHPC’s corporate office.
The CMD stated that the successful commissioning reflects NHPC’s technical expertise and execution capability, reinforcing its role in strengthening national energy resilience in line with the Government of India’s vision for a sustainable and self-reliant power sector. He also expressed confidence that the remaining units of the project would be commissioned in a timely manner.