UPSC CSE Prelims
Mapping and Location-Based Questions Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

The Sumed pipeline is indeed a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe, serving as a vital alternative to the Suez Canal for large vessels. The pipeline connects the Red Sea (Ain Sokhna terminal) with the Mediterranean Sea (Sidi Kerir terminal near Alexandria), which is the geographical feature that enables it to function as a strategic transit bypass for European-bound energy shipments.

✅ Statement-I (Strategic route for Persian Gulf oil to Europe) – Correct: The Sumed pipeline serves as a critical alternative to the Suez Canal, particularly for Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs) that cannot navigate the canal fully loaded, making it strategically important for energy security to Europe.

✅ Statement-II (Connects Red Sea with Mediterranean Sea) – Correct: The pipeline runs from Ain Sokhna terminal on the Gulf of Suez (Red Sea) to Sidi Kerir terminal near Alexandria (Mediterranean Sea), physically connecting these two water bodies.

Statement-II explains Statement-I: The geographical connection between the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea is precisely what makes the pipeline strategically valuable for transporting Persian Gulf oil to Europe, as it bypasses the Suez Canal route.

📝 Short Notes: Sumed Pipeline and Strategic Maritime Routes

• Sumed Pipeline (Suez-Mediterranean Pipeline): Constructed in 1977, it is a 320 km long pipeline with a capacity of approximately 2.34 million barrels per day, running parallel to the Suez Canal.
• Strategic Importance: Provides an alternative route for oil transportation when the Suez Canal is congested, closed, or when vessels are too large to transit the canal (draft restrictions).
• Route Details: Connects Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea coast to Sidi Kerir terminal near Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast, with two parallel lines of 42-inch diameter pipes.
• Operation: Crude oil from Persian Gulf tankers is offloaded at the Red Sea terminal, pumped through the pipeline, and reloaded onto tankers at the Mediterranean terminal for European markets.
• Ownership: Jointly owned by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.
• Comparison with Suez Canal: While the Suez Canal handles larger volumes and diverse cargo, the Sumed pipeline specifically handles crude oil and serves as backup infrastructure for energy security.
• Global Energy Security: Forms part of critical global energy infrastructure alongside other strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.