With a rise in the need for Uranium that would help produce maximum electricity, India is emerging as a leader in research in Thorium, said associate director of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, U. Kamachi Mudali.

Thorium could be converted to Uranium using scientific methods.

Talking at the PSG Polytechnic College during the diploma award ceremony here on Saturday, he said effective utilisation of Uranium through fast breeder reactors would help produce 42000 gw electricity for the next 200 years.

“Our western coasts have world’s one-third Thorium, in contrast to low availability of Uranium. Research comes here very handy,” he said and added that the scope was high for diploma holders in atomic research.

The department would employ around 800 diploma holders for various jobs, Kamachi said and urged the students to widen their scope of their learning.

Around 446 students received their graduation on the day.