China and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the construction of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTR). Details on the project's size or timeline were not disclosed.

ISaudi Arabia plans to construct 16 nuclear reactors over the next 20 years. Since 2003, the state-owned China Nuclear Engineering Corp. (CNEC) has worked with Tsinghua University on the design, construction and commercialization of HTR technology. The partners signed an agreement in March 2014 aimed at marketing the advanced reactor technology both domestically and internationally.

"After 30 years of basic research, experimental reactor operation and demonstration projects, China has now systematically mastered all the key HTR technologies," CNEC said in a statement. CNEC says it is promoting its HTR technology overseas and has signed MOUs with Dubai, South Africa "and other countries and regions" to consider building HTR plants.

Although Saudi Arabia's nuclear program is in its infancy, the Kingdom says it plans to construct 16 reactors over the next 20 years.