Morocco-Spain Tunnel: A German Study Confirms Technical Readiness, Bringing the Dream Closer to Reality
After more than half a century of studies and discussions, the project to build a tunnel connecting Morocco to Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar is closer than ever to becoming a reality, following a recent engineering study confirming its technical feasibility.
According to the Spanish website “vozpopuli,” the German company Herrenknecht, a global leader in tunnel boring machine production, has completed a study indicating that the complex geological structure of the strait allows for the execution of the project, marking a historical shift for this long-held dream linking the two shores of the Mediterranean.
The study, commissioned by the Spanish Association for Fixed Link Studies across the Strait of Gibraltar (SECEGSA) under the Spanish Ministry of Transport, focused on the technical feasibility at the most challenging points, particularly beneath the well-known “Camarinal” threshold, known for its complicated geological composition.
The Spanish government has had the study results since June and is currently reviewing the details in preparation for launching a tender for the construction of the underwater tunnel after June 2026, the date set for updating the initial project design that dates back to 2007.
The two countries are expected to make a final decision regarding the exploratory tunnel tender in 2027, while delegations from SECEGSA and its Moroccan counterpart, the National Company for Studies of the Strait (SNED), visited Norway to benefit from the experience of the “Rogfast” tunnel, the longest and deepest tunnel under construction in the world.
Estimates suggest that the first phase, relating to the construction of the exploratory tunnel, will take between six to nine years. This phase includes preparing the design base for the main double tunnel, with its Spanish section estimated to be around 40 kilometers long, connecting to the Cádiz–Seville railway, with a budget exceeding €8.5 billion, and potential contributions from European Union funds.
According to the proposed scenarios, actual work could commence by 2030, coinciding with the organization of the World Cup in Morocco and Spain; however, more conservative estimates suggest a timeframe between 2035 and 2040 to achieve significant milestones in light of substantial technical and financial challenges.
This ambitious project is seen as a strategic step to strengthen Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula’s position as a bridge connecting Europe and Africa, whether in terms of transport, energy, or infrastructure. The recent technical study represents a crucial turning point, shifting the project from the realm of dreams to the horizon of actual implementation.
