Kinnaur: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today inspected the world’s first geothermal energy-powered apple cold storage and fruit drying integrated facility located at Tapri in Kinnaur district.
The 1,000-tonne capacity facility has been developed under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) and a company from Iceland.
The Chief Minister stated that a total of 16,963 kilograms of fruits have been processed at the unit over the past two years. This includes 5,105 kilograms of fruit processed between November 2024 and February 2025, and 11,948 kilograms between June 2025 and January 2026. He expressed confidence that the facility will prove highly beneficial for local farmers and horticulturists in the coming years.
The system uses geothermal heat for both fruit storage and drying processes. The region is known for its naturally occurring hot thermal water sources, which make this innovation possible.
Unlike conventional systems that rely heavily on electricity, this facility uses geothermal energy for fruit drying, setting a new benchmark in eco-friendly agricultural practices and sustainable technology adoption.
On this occasion, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Secretary to the Chief Minister Ashish Singhmhar, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Amit Kumar Sharma, Superintendent of Police Sushil Kumar, and other senior officials were present.
