DRDO’s DIPAS Hands Over High-Altitude Sustenance Technologies to PGCIL for Pang-Kaithal HVDC Project

Jammu: In a significant boost to India’s energy infrastructure, the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), a key laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has transferred critical high-altitude sustenance technologies to the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL). The handover took place during an orientation workshop at PGCIL’s regional headquarters in Jammu, aimed at preparing employees for the challenging high-altitude conditions of the 5000 MW Pang-Kaithal High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Project in Ladakh.

The Pang-Kaithal HVDC Project, located at a staggering altitude of 15,760 feet, marks a significant step towards enhancing energy security in the Ladakh region. It also plays a crucial role in integrating solar power into India’s national grid. DIPAS, renowned for its groundbreaking research in high-altitude physiology, has provided a range of sustenance technologies to ensure the safety and efficiency of PGCIL’s workforce operating in these extreme conditions.

Previously, DRDO and PGCIL had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate technical collaboration for high-altitude operations. DIPAS has long been a leader in high-altitude research, having developed protocols for the acclimatization of Indian Army personnel in the Himalayan region. Its latest contributions to the Pang-Kaithal project include nutritional ration scales, protective clothing, non-conventional energy-based shelters, and cold-injury prevention solutions.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Rajeev Varshney, Director of DIPAS, chaired the induction program, alongside Chief General Manager Shri Amit Sharma (i/c) of the Pang-Kaithal HVDC Project. Senior scientists from DRDO and officials from PGCIL were also in attendance, discussing the technologies and protocols that will be critical in ensuring the project’s success.

Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, congratulated the DIPAS team for their valuable contribution to this project of national importance. “This collaboration not only strengthens our energy infrastructure but also demonstrates the vital role of science and technology in supporting critical operations in extreme environments,” said Dr. Kamat.