NHPC has officially commissioned the fifth 250 MW power generating unit at the Subansiri Lower hydroelectric project. This milestone pushes the project total capacity to 1,250 MW, according to an official statement from the company. The declaration of commercial operation for this fifth unit became effective at 00:00 hours on October 23, 2026. This development marks a significant step forward for the facility, located on the border between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Reports confirm that the unit underwent
grid synchronisation on October 12, 2026. This follows the earlier commissioning of the fourth unit in May 2026. The Subansiri Lower project carries a total planned capacity of 2,000 MW, divided across eight individual 250 MW units. With five now operational, the project team must still complete the remaining three units to reach full capacity. NHPC Chairman and Managing Director Bhupender Gupta highlighted the technical achievement involved in this expansion. He noted that the project serves as a critical national asset for long-term energy security.
The primary stakeholders overseeing the project include the Ministry of Power, the state governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and NHPC. GE Vernova provides the engineering and mechanical support for the dam infrastructure. Official updates verify that the focus now shifts toward the
installation and commissioning of units six, seven, and eight. No specific timeline for the completion of these final units has been confirmed by NHPC. The operational units continue to feed power into the grid as part of the ongoing effort to meet national hydro energy targets.
