The Sumed pipeline (also known as Suez-Mediterranean pipeline) is an oil pipeline in Egypt, running from the Ain Sukhna terminal on the Gulf of Suez to offshore Sidi Kerir, Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea. It provides an alternative to the Suez Canal for transporting oil from the Persian Gulf region to the Mediterranean.
* History
The project for an oil pipeline from the Red Sea to the Medit
erranean commenced after the extended closure of the Suez Canal in June 1967. Establishment of the pipeline company was agreed in 1973 between five Arab governments
The Sumed pipeline was opened in 1977.
* Technical description
The Sumed pipeline is 320 kilometres (200 mi) long. Its capacity is 2.5 million barrels per day (400×103 m3/d).[5] In 2009 it carried 1.1 million barrels per day (170×103 m3/d).
*Proposed extension
An extension of the Sumed is being considered. The proposed extension would traverse the Red Sea from Ain Sukhna to the Saudi coast near Sharm al Sheikh, and from there to the terminal of Saudi Arabia's main East-West pipeline in Yanbu.
