Reviving the Dream: The Gibraltar Strait Tunnel Project Gains Momentum After Decades
The mythological origins of the Gibraltar Strait are often attributed to Hercules, who, in his legendary labors, is said to have cleaved the mountain separating the Mediterranean from the Atlantic, erecting a pillar on each shore. For over a century, the ambition to construct a tunnel connecting Africa and Europe has persisted, evolving from a fantastical dream into a serious proposal. Spain and Morocco have collectively invested EUR104 million--EUR60 million and EUR44 million, respectively--into the institutions responsible for examining this ambitious infrastructure project.
Recently, the Spanish government has taken steps to revitalize the tunnel project, which, if realized, could cost billions and take over two decades to complete. The renewed interest traces back to April 2023 when Spain's then Minister of Transport met with her Moroccan counterpart, marking a significant step after 14 years of stagnation. Financial backing for the feasibility studies began in earnest a year prior, with the public entity Secegsa receiving a substantial increase in funding, from EUR100,000 to EUR750,000, and escalating to EUR2.739 million in 2024, supplemented by EUR2.025 million from the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Mechanism.
The impetus behind this recent surge in funding aims at updating technical studies, embracing digital transformation, and revising the initial 2007 project proposal. The executive president of Secegsa has outlined that the organization employs nine staff members charged with developing the necessary studies in collaboration with Morocco's equivalent agency, the Société Nationale d'Études du Détroit de Gibraltar (SNED).
This endeavor has its roots in discussions that began in 1979 between King Juan Carlos I of Spain and King Hassan II of Morocco, marking the first public initiative toward what was initially proposed by French engineer Charles de Villedeuil in 1872. The project has faced numerous technical challenges, particularly in selecting between two potential routes: the shorter, deeper option and a longer, shallower path.
The latter route was favored in the last study conducted in 2007, with current considerations now looking to extend the length of the tunnels from 32 kilometers to potentially 60 kilometers, accommodating longer trains and facilitating connections from Tangier to Algeciras--an area currently lacking in adequate electrification.
Should the tunnel come to fruition, it would stand as one of the longest tunnels globally, surpassing even the Eurotunnel, which links France and the UK. To assess the seismic risk of the proposed area, the Spanish government allocated EUR480,000 to lease four seismographs, further emphasizing the commitment to thorough evaluation before any construction begins. This analysis is part of a broader series of investigations necessary to ensure the project's viability, with estimated preliminary study costs around EUR1 billion.
The overall investment required for the tunnel remains an open question, contingent on both Spanish and Moroccan governments. Earlier projections estimated the cost of a 32-kilometer tunnel at EUR10 billion in 2007, which would now translate to approximately EUR15 billion. This budget encompasses all preliminary explorations and the phased development of the tunnel.
Throughout the years, the proposal for the Gibraltar Strait Tunnel has become a familiar narrative, particularly among experts and locals. A recent journalist's exploration into the subject highlighted the infrastructure's potential role in improving migration conditions, juxtaposing the challenges faced by those attempting to traverse the strait by perilous means.
While some experts argue that the massive investment in the tunnel project is a necessary step toward enhancing trade and connectivity between Africa and Europe, others caution against the ethical implications of creating a secure passage while countless migrants risk their lives crossing the strait.
