Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday inspected the world’s first geothermal-powered combined apple cold storage and fruit drying unit at Tapri in Kinnaur district. The facility, with a capacity of 1,000 tonnes, has been developed under a Memorandum of Understanding between HP Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) and an Iceland-based company.
The Chief Minister said a total of 16,963 kg of fruits had been processed at the unit over the past two years. Of this, 5,105 kg were processed between November 2024 and February 2025, while 11,948 kg were processed from June 2025 to January 2026. He said this facility would become increasingly beneficial for local residents in the coming years.
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He said this initiative of the state government aimed to harness geothermal heat for the storage and drying of fruits, thereby providing sustainable support to local farmers. The site was notable for housing the hottest thermal spring in the region. Unlike conventional systems that depend on electricity, this facility utilises geothermal energy for fruit drying, setting a new benchmark in environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Secretary to Chief Minister Ashish Singhmar, Deputy Commissioner, Dr Amit Kumar Sharma, Superintendent of Police, Sushil Kumar and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
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