Cairo: Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi stated that the Arab Petroleum Pipelines Company (SUMED) continues to be a central component in the transportation and trading of Gulf crude oil, offering a strategic and secure pathway connecting the Gulf region with the Mediterranean. Badawi emphasized the importance of the SUMED pipeline in facilitating the efficient and swift delivery of crude oil from the Arabian Gulf to European and global markets.
According to State Information Service Egypt, these comments were made during SUMED's annual general assembly meeting, which was attended by the company's chairman, board members, shareholder representatives from Egypt and Gulf countries via video conference, and senior officials from Egypt's petroleum ministry. The minister highlighted the company's achievements in 2025, describing SUMED as a successful example of joint Arab investment, supported by sustained accomplishments over the decades.
Badawi noted that the shareholder countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Egypt, collaborate within an integrated framework that boosts the movement of Arab crude oil and enhances the efficiency of global market supply. He also pointed out the strong foundation for cooperation in the energy sector between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, due to geographic proximity and longstanding ties, with Saudi Arabia playing a crucial role in stabilizing global energy markets.
Additionally, Badawi acknowledged SUMED's significant contribution to Egypt's energy system during the summer of 2025, as the company facilitated the reception and operation of regasification vessels at its Ain Sokhna port, ensuring stable energy supplies. He expressed gratitude for the involvement of former petroleum ministers Tarek El-Molla and Osama Kamal, whose expertise as board members is considered a valuable asset to the company.
SUMED Chairman Mohamed Abdel Hafez shared that the company transported approximately 50 million tonnes of crude oil in 2025, equivalent to around 365 million barrels, demonstrating strong operational and financial performance amidst global energy sector challenges. He also highlighted the achievement of five million safe working hours, reflecting the company's commitment to occupational health and safety.
Ahmed Al-Khenini, senior vice president for sales and supply planning at Saudi Aramco, described SUMED as an integrated regional energy trading hub with a strategic role in supporting regional and global energy security. He emphasized the company's importance in enabling western Saudi Arabia to meet global oil demand, especially in Europe and North America, amid geopolitical developments and restrictions on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Al-Khenini further noted the strategic location of the SUMED pipeline, linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, as critical for transporting crude to global markets. He reported that the volumes transported through the pipeline have doubled as crude is received, transported, and re-exported from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.
Zayed Al-Mazrouei, executive director for refining and marketing at Mubadala Energy, praised SUMED's performance in 2025, citing strong results in crude transport, storage, and petroleum product trading, which for the first time accounted for 25% of the company's revenues. Shareholder representatives from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar also commended SUMED's board for its robust performance and its role in supporting regional energy transport and trading systems.