Westinghouse Electric Company, Toshiba Corporation and Exelon Nuclear Partners (ENP), have announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create a joint proposal for the construction of nuclear power plants for King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE), the government body established to develop alternative energy sources in Saudi Arabia.

Toshiba and Westinghouse will provide world-leading nuclear expertise related to their advanced reactors. ENP will provide operations and associated services for the project.

"This joint promotion, bringing together Toshiba and Westinghouse's proven technologies and Exelon's operating know-how, allows us to develop proposals for Saudi Arabia for the most advanced and safest nuclear energy technologies in the world today," said Yasushi Igarashi, Corporate Executive Vice President of Toshiba.

"We are confident that we can support the Kingdom in its efforts to diversify its energy mix and ensure long-term energy security."

Toshiba and ENP were partners in an earlier team formed in July 2010. The new partnership, adding Westinghouse, will be strengthened by its ability to draw on Westinghouse's AP1000 plant technology and engineering expertise, and will target winning multiple orders for nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia.

"We are excited to join a team that gives us an opportunity to provide our cutting-edge technology and innovative passive safety systems," said Danny Roderick, Westinghouse president and CEO.

"We are confident that this project will go well, as we already have a deep working relationship with Toshiba and with Exelon, which is a long-standing customer and business partner."

Interest in nuclear power is rising in Saudi Arabia. K.A.CARE was established in April 2010 to promote alternative energy sources to oil, and the country plans to construct as many as 16 nuclear power reactors by 2032.

Amir Shahkarami, CEO of Exelon Nuclear Partners said "Exelon Nuclear Partners is excited about the prospect of collaborating with Toshiba and Westinghouse to help Saudi Arabia achieve its goals of developing alternative energy resources that will help the Kingdom to reduce its reliance on oil and strengthen its position as a regional energy supplier."