Spain Commits €1.6 Million for Feasibility Study of Underwater Tunnel Linking Europe and Africa
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Spain has allocated €1.6 million to assess the viability of constructing an underwater tunnel through the Strait of Gibraltar, aimed at establishing a fixed link between Europe and Africa. This landmark initiative, considered a strategic infrastructure project, is being financed through the European Union’s Next Generation funds.
According to Spanish news outlets, the original budget of €2.4 million was revised following adjustments to the project’s scope. The Spanish Ministry of Transport, under Minister Óscar Puente, confirmed that the public engineering company Ineco will lead the financial and technical feasibility studies.
The proposed tunnel would span 38.5 kilometers, of which 27.7 kilometers would run beneath the seabed, connecting southern Spain to northern Morocco via two separate railway tunnels. Potential entry points under consideration on the Spanish side include Algeciras, with its established port and rail infrastructure, and Tarifa, Europe’s southernmost city.
“The construction of a permanent connection across the Strait would be a vital component of the Euro-Mediterranean transport network,” stated the Ministry. “It would enhance the flow of passengers, goods, and services, providing a significant economic boost to the region.”
To evaluate the tunnel’s engineering feasibility, Germany’s renowned tunnel-boring firm Herrenknecht has been commissioned to conduct structural assessments, expected to be completed by June. This will complement Ineco’s broader study, which includes geological analysis and financial modeling.
SECEGSA, the Spanish Company for Studies on Fixed Communication across the Gibraltar Strait, also revealed that €480,000 had been invested in the rental and optional purchase of four seismometers from TEKPAM Ingeniería SL to analyze the Strait’s seabed conditions. These efforts build on extensive research dating back to 1980, when Spain and Morocco signed a bilateral agreement to explore the fixed link concept.
Over the decades, the project has seen deep-sea drilling, seismic testing, and experimental tunnel works in both Tarifa and Tangier. Recent diplomatic progress between Spain and Morocco—particularly after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s 2022 visit to Rabat—has reignited interest in the venture.
During a High-Level Meeting in February 2023, former Spanish Transport Minister Raquel Sánchez described the tunnel as a “strategic project” for both nations. The Spanish-Moroccan Joint Committee held follow-up discussions, though officials emphasized that construction is contingent on future bilateral agreements.
The project draws inspiration from the Eurotunnel, which connects France and the UK under the English Channel. Despite the renewed momentum, experts acknowledge that significant technical, geological, and financial challenges remain. Factors such as seismic activity, seabed conditions, and the project’s sheer cost could delay completion until 2040.
The tunnel also gains symbolic importance in the context of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will co-host. While the tunnel will likely not be ready by then, officials say it represents a long-term vision for transcontinental integration and economic cooperation.
