Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Egypt and Iraq have been examining the feasibility of a
joint energy pipeline under the Gulf of Aqaba.

The two countries discussed energy cooperation during a visit to Baghdad by Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil on March 4. Officials said Iraq has sought to pump crude oil to Egypt via neighboring Jordan.

“We discussed supplying Egyptian refineries with crude oil via a
pipeline stretching across the Gulf of Aqaba, an important artery to support the economies of Iraq, Egypt and Jordan,” Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki said.

The pipeline project was discussed as part of plans to bolster trade
between Baghdad and Cairo.

Since 2003, trade dropped from $3 billion to $600 million a year.

  Gulf of Aqaba, Hisham Qandil, Iraq offers to build oil pipeline to supply Egyptian refineries, Nouri Al Maliki