| Sumed Pipeline | |
|---|---|
 Location of the Sumed Pipeline | |
| Location | |
| Country | Egypt |
| General direction | South–north |
| From | Ain Sokhna terminal |
| To | Sidi Kerir port |
| Runs alongside | Suez Canal |
| General information | |
| Type | Oil |
| Partners | EGPC,Saudi Aramco,IPIC, threeKuwaiti companies,QatarEnergy |
| Operator | Arab Petroleum Pipeline Company (Sumed Company) |
| Commissioned | 1977 |
| Technical information | |
| Length | 320 km (200 mi) |
| Maximum discharge | 2.5 million barrels per day (400×10 |
TheSumed Pipeline (also known as theSuez-Mediterranean Pipeline) is anoil pipeline inEgypt, running from theAin Sokhna terminal in theGulf of Suez, the northernmost terminus of theRed Sea, to offshoreSidi Kerir port,Alexandria[1] in theMediterranean Sea. It provides an alternative to theSuez Canal for transporting oil from thePersian Gulf region to the Mediterranean.
The project for an oil pipeline from theRed Sea to theMediterranean commenced after the extended closure of theSuez Canal following theSix-Day War in June 1967.[2] Establishment of the pipeline company was agreed in 1973 between fiveArab governments.[3] The Sumed pipeline was opened in 1977.[4][5]
The Sumed pipeline is 320 kilometres (200 mi) long. It consists of two parallel lines of 42 inches (1,070 mm) diameter. Its capacity is 2.5 million barrels per day (400×10^3 m3/d).[5] In 2009 it carried 1.1 million barrels per day (170×10^3 m3/d).[6]
The pipeline is owned by the Arab Petroleum Pipeline Company/Sumed Company, a joint venture ofEGPC (50%, Egypt),Saudi Aramco (15%,Saudi Arabia),IPIC (15%, theUnited Arab Emirates), threeKuwaiti companies (each of 5%), andQatarEnergy (5%,Qatar).
An extension of the Sumed is being considered. The proposed extension would traverse the Red Sea from Ain Sukhna to the Saudi coast nearSharm al Sheikh, and from there to the terminal of Saudi Arabia's maineast-west pipeline inYanbu.
