Information on the Underwater Tunnel Project in the Strait of Gibraltar, Connecting Morocco and Spain

The Morocco-Spain tunnel, a proposed underwater tunnel project that aims to deliver a fixed link between Africa and Europe, is set to commence construction in 2030, according to the Spanish research firm, Sociedad Española de Estudios para la Comunicación Fija a travéz del Estrecho de Gibraltar, SA (SECEGSA).

The project's resurgence can be traced back to 1979, following a joint declaration between Spain and Morocco in Fez. Over the years, the Spanish government has shown its commitment to the project, transferring funds to SECEGSA, with the latest funding coming from the EU's Recovery, Transformation & Resilience Plan.

In June 2022, SECEGSA announced that the contract for the development of the Morocco-Spain tunnel had been awarded to the Spanish company Acciona. The contract includes the construction of a 38 km long tunnel, with 27 km underwater, reaching a maximum depth of 475m and a slope of 3%.

The Moroccan counterpart in this project is the National Society for Strait of Gibraltar Studies (SNED) in Rabat. The restoration of ties between Spain and Morocco and the construction of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline have reignited interest in the Morocco-Spain tunnel project.

Lombardi Engineering Ltd, a Swiss engineering company, was selected to design the tunnel in 2006. Preliminary studies for the project were completed by 2008, and a mixed Hispano-Moroccan committee was established in 1980 to manage the project.

Vodafone UK and EniCo have been awarded contracts for the development of the project. Vodafone will provide communication services, while EniCo will conduct the financial feasibility study. The Strait of Gibraltar, a narrow strait connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, separates the Iberian Peninsula in Europe from Morocco in Africa.

The project was discussed in a videoconference between Abdelkader Amara, the Moroccan Minister of Transport, and his Spanish counterpart José Luis Abalos in April 2021. A new joint intergovernmental meeting is to be held in Casablanca in the coming months to discuss the railway tunnel project further.

Initially, engineers suggested the tunnel could be commissioned by 2025, subject to technical feasibility studies. However, due to various factors, the construction is now expected to start in 2030. The Morocco-Spain tunnel project, once completed, is expected to revolutionise the transportation and communication infrastructure between Africa and Europe.

Information on the Underwater Tunnel Project in the Strait of Gibraltar, Connecting Morocco and Spain