Spain-Morocco Underwater Rail Tunnel Project Pushed Back to 2040
Doha - The ambitious underwater rail tunnel project connecting Spain and Morocco through the Strait of Gibraltar has been delayed, with completion now projected for 2040, a decade later than initially planned.
The announcement comes as new technical studies and seismic analyses are underway to determine the feasibility of this complex infrastructure project.
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente has taken the initiative to revive this long-standing project, which has been in discussion for over 45 years.
The tunnel, designed exclusively for rail transport, will connect Punta Paloma in Cadiz, Spain, with Punta Malabata near Tangier, Morocco.
The project involves constructing a 42-kilometer tunnel, with nearly 30 kilometers submerged at depths reaching 475 meters.
Initial plans call for a single gallery accommodating both directions, with a second tunnel planned in a later phase to separate incoming and outgoing traffic.
Two key preliminary studies are currently in progress. Herrenknecht Ibérica, a Spanish subsidiary of the German firm Herrenknecht, was awarded a €296,000 contract in October 2024 to analyze the feasibility of drilling through the 'Camarinal Sill,' the elevation separating the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.
The company, known for its work on Madrid's M-30 tunnels and the Bosphorus crossing in Turkey, will complete its study by July.
'Herrenknecht Ibérica has not been contracted to supply technology or perform construction work. The contract exclusively concerns a feasibility study,' company representatives told El Confidencial.
A second study involving seismic monitoring was initially contracted to Tekpam Ingenieria but was suspended following security concerns raised by the Royal Institute and Naval Observatory.
Read also: What Makes Bridging the Strait of Gibraltar Between Spain and Morocco So Challenging?
The study is now scheduled to resume between April and September under naval supervision, when weather conditions are more favorable.
The project faces significant technical challenges, particularly due to its location at the boundary between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates along the Azores-Gibraltar fault line.
The complex geology of the strait has been identified by the Spanish Institute of Engineering as one of the primary obstacles.
The financial investment in the project has been substantial. Between 2016 and 2021, SECEGSA (Spanish Society for Fixed Communication Studies across the Strait of Gibraltar) received annual funding of €50,000, totaling over €2 million.
The budget increased to €100,000 in 2022 and €750,000 in 2023. Total investment has reportedly exceeded €50 million, with the complete project estimated to cost more than €15 billion.
While initial plans aimed to complete the tunnel by 2030, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, experts agree this timeline is unrealistic given the project's complexity and current preliminary stage of studies.
The project is being jointly managed by SECEGSA and its Moroccan counterpart, SNED (National Society for Strait Studies), with both organizations working to establish a reliable rail connection for passengers and freight between Europe and North Africa.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
6 hours ago
- Morocco World
Germany Moves to Classify Morocco as ‘Safe Country of Origin'
The German federal government is set to adopt a draft law granting it the authority to determine the list of safe countries, on June 4, with the list of safe countries reportedly including Morocco. Led by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) coalition, this new law would allow the government to bypass the upper house of the federal parliament, the Bundesrat, where several attempts to expand the list of safe countries have mostly failed. The law will allow the German federal government to tighten its migration policy, beginning with stricter controls on asylum applications. By granting the executive branch the authority to unilaterally designate 'safe countries of origin,' the law paves the way for faster rejections of asylum claims from nationals of those countries, reduced appeal options, and more rapid deportations. This approach marks a shift toward policies focused on deterrence, emphasizing faster processing and stronger border control over thorough, individual assessments of asylum claims — thus raising concerns about whether the right to seek protection is being fully upheld. Read also: Earlier in March, the 'Interior, Law, Migration, and Integration' committee of the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, stated in its official report that the federal government would begin implementing 'pushbacks at shared borders,' including for asylum seekers. This refers to the practice of forcibly turning away individuals at the border—often without allowing them to file for asylum or undergo individual case assessments. In Germany's case, 'shared borders' typically refer to crossings with neighboring EU countries like Austria, Poland, or France. Such pushbacks are widely criticized by human rights organizations as violations of international refugee law, particularly the 1951 Refugee Convention, which protects the right to seek asylum and prohibits the return of individuals to places where they may face danger. As of now, Germany's official list of safe countries includes all EU member states, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Senegal and Serbia. In addition to Morocco, Germany is considering expanding this list to include Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Nigeria, India and Mongolia. Under the proposed law, the government would no longer require approval from the Bundesrat to implement these changes, drastically speeding up the process and centralizing power within the executive branch. Critics argue that this move could lead to rushed decisions and further erode the legal protections designed to safeguard those fleeing persecution or conflict. While specific figures for Moroccan asylum seekers are not prominently featured in the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) public reports, data from 2018 indicated that there were 76,200 Moroccan nationals residing in Germany without German citizenship, with 505 individuals granted asylum status at that time.
Morocco World
7 hours ago
- Morocco World
Abuja Seeks Investors for $25 Billion Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline Project
Doha – Nigeria's government is actively courting international investors for the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, a key infrastructure initiative to supply natural gas to European markets. According to Nigerian media, Vice President Kashim Shettima met with representatives from Vitol Group, the world's largest independent energy trader based in Switzerland, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday. During the meeting, Shettima stressed President Bola Tinubu's commitment to economic reforms aimed at making Nigeria an attractive investment destination in the energy sector. The vice president noted the president's 'courage to take far-reaching decisions,' including the removal of fuel subsidies, unification of multiple exchange rates, and implementation of tax reforms. The ambitious pipeline project, which spans 5,660 kilometers, aims to deliver Nigerian gas through an undersea route along the West African coast to Morocco and eventually to European markets. The infrastructure is designed to supply energy to approximately 400 million people across 13 African countries with an annual gas capacity between 15 and 30 billion cubic meters. 'We are seriously exploring the option of taking our gas to Europe. It is an expensive venture requiring about $25 billion and, of course, the technical expertise,' Shettima stated during the meeting. He added that Nigeria values Vitol's technical expertise as much as potential financial investment. Shettima described Nigeria's gas sector as 'a beacon of stability and transparency' and noted the country possesses the eighth-largest gas reserves in the world. He urged Vitol to participate in Nigeria's energy transition program and leverage their dominance in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Associated Petroleum Gas (APG) sub-sectors. The gas pipeline tops President Tinubu's priorities The project has been identified as a priority by President Tinubu's administration. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim announced this commitment during the executive session of the African Parliament Union in Casablanca last month. According to Ibrahim, the project is expected to create thousands of jobs, boost industrial and digital development, and contribute to a sustainable energy future for participating countries. Morocco's Energy Transition Minister Leila Benali confirmed in mid-May that feasibility and preliminary engineering studies have been completed and the optimal route determined. 'A special-purpose company is currently being established between Morocco and Nigeria to make the final investment decision by the end of the current year,' Benali told Morocco's Upper House. The project has attracted major international interest. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and OPEC Fund have agreed to contribute funding. China's Jingye Steel Group has secured a contract to supply pipes for construction. The United States has also expressed interest in investing in the initiative, particularly given Nigeria's vast gas reserves. The pipeline project originated during King Mohammed VI's state visit to Nigeria in December 2016. Though the Final Investment Decision was initially planned for 2023, it has been postponed to 2025, reflecting the project's complexity and scale. Morocco will host 1,672 kilometers of the pipeline, which will pass through Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania before reaching Morocco. The North African country has already launched a tender to develop national natural gas infrastructure connecting Nador port to Kenitra and Mohammedia, extending to Dakhla to link with the Africa-Atlantic Gas Pipeline. Jeffrey Dellapina, Chief Financial Officer of Vitol Group, voiced his company's long-term commitment to Nigeria during the meeting with the vice president. 'This has been an incredibly close and important country for Vitol for a very long time,' Dellapina said, continuing that Vitol is 'committed to this country' and wants to 'evolve with you.' Read also: Kano, Nigeria Seeks to Attract Multi-Billion-Dollar Energy Investment from Morocco Tags: Morocco-Nigerian pipeline project
Morocco World
7 hours ago
- Morocco World
Real Madrid Target Ajax Wonderkid Abdellah Ouazane as Contract Expires
Doha – Real Madrid have set their sights on 16-year-old Ajax talent Abdellah Ouazane, who is set to become a free agent when his contract expires on June 30. The Spanish giants have been monitoring the Moroccan youngster for some time and have already initiated contact with the player's representatives. Born in Amsterdam but representing Morocco at youth level, Ouazane was named the best player at the African U-17 Cup. His performances in the tournament attracted attention from several major European clubs, with Real Madrid now pushing to secure his signature. The creative midfielder has impressed during his first year at the youth level with Ajax and has already made his debut with the Dutch club's first youth team. Despite previously playing for the Netherlands U-15 side, Ouazane appears to have chosen to represent Morocco internationally. According to reports confirmed by Marca, the youngster could join either Real Madrid's youth team or potentially their Castilla reserve side. Madrid's interest in Ouazane dates back to early last season, but club officials wanted to see how he performed in a major tournament before making their move. Ouazane is known for his versatility, capable of playing both as an attacking midfielder and in central midfield. He possesses a powerful shot and is skilled at taking free kicks. The Amsterdam native made his debut for Morocco's U-17 team in October 2024 and has already scored four goals in 13 appearances. While Madrid's senior team prepares for the upcoming Club World Cup starting June 14, with their first match against Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal scheduled for June 18, the club's directors are working to finalize the acquisition of one of the most promising young talents they have scouted in recent months. Tags: Ajax Amsterdammoroccan football playersReal Madrid
