Morocco, Spain renew interest in undersea tunnel

The long-discussed undersea tunnel that would link Morocco and Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar has gained fresh momentum following the signing of new contracts aimed at reviving the ambitious infrastructure project.

Spain’s Ministry of Transport has commissioned public company EniCo to conduct a comprehensive financial feasibility study, backed by €350,000 in funding from the European Union’s Next Generation program.

The study will evaluate passenger and freight traffic potential, identify optimal terminal locations- likely in Algeciras or Tarifa- and explore financing models inspired by the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France, Spanish media reported.

In parallel, Vodafone UK has been contracted to provide telecommunications infrastructure for the expert teams overseeing the project.

The proposed tunnel would span 38.5 kilometers, including 28 kilometers beneath the sea, reaching depths of up to 300 meters.

It would connect southern Spain to Punta Malabata near Tangier.

Originally conceived under a 1980 bilateral agreement between Morocco and Spain, the project led to the creation of two dedicated agencies: SECEGSA in Spain and SNED in Morocco.

Despite decades of studies and political interest, construction has yet to begin, and officials caution that work is unlikely to start anytime soon due to the scale of technical, financial, and environmental challenges.

If realized, the tunnel would serve as a strategic transcontinental corridor, enhancing mobility, trade, and energy exchange between Europe and Africa.