Ineco Spearheads Feasibility Study for Spain-Morocco Undersea Tunnel

Doha – The Spanish government has commissioned its public engineering company, Ineco, to update the feasibility study and budget for the long-awaited undersea tunnel connecting Spain and Morocco, Spanish newspaper Vozpópuli reported earlier this month.

This move comes as both countries seek to strengthen their bilateral ties and foster economic cooperation, the report noted.

The tunnel project, which has been in the works for decades, gained fresh impetus following the Spanish government’s decision to back Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara in April 2022. Since then, authorities from both sides have pledged to accelerate the project’s progress, signaling a renewed commitment to turning this dream into reality.

Ineco’s task is to revisit the 2007 preliminary project, which was jointly developed by Spanish, Moroccan, Swiss, and Italian engineering firms. The company will explore construction alternatives, assess their viability, conduct safety studies, and provide an updated cost estimate for the entire project, including works on the Moroccan side. Initial estimates suggest that the tunnel could cost between 5 and 10 billion euros, with funding expected from European and African supranational institutions.

While the shortest route between the two countries spans just 14 kilometers, it poses a significant challenge due to the sea depth of around 1,000 meters along that path. As a result, Ineco is considering alternative routes that are twice as long but have a more manageable depth of less than 300 meters.

The current plan envisions a single-tube tunnel that could be expanded with a parallel tube in the future, allowing for the simultaneous passage of both freight and passenger trains. The project aims to integrate the tunnel into the European Transport Network’s rail corridor, which would enhance its eligibility for European public funding. Consultations have been held with the U.S. Geological Survey in Europe and Herrenknecht, a German company specializing in tunnel construction.

The idea of connecting Spain and Morocco via an undersea link dates back to the 19th century, with the first agreement between the two countries signed in 1979. Since then, around 50 joint committees have convened to discuss the project.

The Spanish government has invested substantial public funds over the decades, although the allocations decreased during the past decade, with subsidies totaling just 50,000 euros in 2017. However, the project’s inclusion in the post-pandemic European Reconstruction Funds has allowed for its revival, with total allocations exceeding two million euros since 2021.

Sources close to the project suggest that the tunnel could see its first green shoots by 2030, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup jointly hosted by Spain and Morocco. Back in 2007, the Spanish government led by fellow Socialist José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero had predicted that the project would become a reality by 2026.