An OTEC-based desalination plant takes shape at Kavaratti under the Deep Ocean Mission

State Focus Lakshadweep Project Environment & Climate Infrastructure & Transport Science & Technology

An OTEC-based desalination plant takes shape at Kavaratti under the Deep Ocean Mission

28 October 2026

The Union Minister for Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, inspected the OTEC-based desalination facility under construction at Kavaratti in Lakshadweep, a project of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

OTEC is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. It uses the temperature difference between warm surface sea water and cold deep-sea water to generate energy, which then powers desalination to produce drinking water. At Kavaratti the Minister reviewed the seawater intake system, the deep-sea cold-water pipeline, the turbine-generator unit and the desalination modules, along with commissioning timelines and environmental safeguards.

Officials also briefed him on an offshore OTEC demonstration project planned under the Deep Ocean Mission, the Ministry of Earth Sciences programme for deep-sea technology and resources.

Technology: Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Location: Kavaratti, Lakshadweep Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences Related mission: Deep Ocean Mission

Why it matters for exams: OTEC's expansion and the Deep Ocean Mission's parent ministry — Earth Sciences, not Science and Technology — are the facts examiners test here.

Kerala PSCUPSC

28 October 2026 Source: Press Information Bureau

In plain words

OTEC Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion — A technology that draws energy from the temperature difference between warm surface and cold deep sea water.