Why UK and Morocco plan to build a $9.4 billion undersea tunnel
The European and the African continents are separated by a flow path that connects the
Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean sea.
The above channel (referred to as a strait) is called the Strait of Gibraltar.
Spain and Gibraltar are on the European side of the Gibraltar Strait, while Morocco and
Ceuta are on the African side.
The shortest distance between Africa and Spain is 8.9 miles (14 kilometers), making it the
narrowest point in the strait.
To be more accurate, at the narrowest part of the Strait of Gibraltar, a ferry takes
around 35 minutes to traverse from Europe to Africa.
Africa may be seen from a number of locations in Europe near the Strait of Gibraltar.
The African shore may be seen from across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Gibraltar, Tarifa, Mirador dor Estrecho, Nerja, Sierra de Istan in Marbella, and Algeciras
are among these places.
The northern Moroccan mountain ranges, often known as the Rif, emerge in the distance,
creating a breathtaking scene.
The Strait is also frequently used for illegal immigration from Africa to Europe due to its
position.
You will also have the opportunity to see the Moroccan portion of the Atlas Mountains,
which straddle three African countries: Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
The Strait of Gibraltar crossing is a hypothetical tunnel spanning the Strait of Gibraltar (about
14 km or 9 miles at its narrowest point) that would link Europe and Africa.
The feasibility of building a bridge to span the Strait had been explored by a consortium
of American and British engineers.
The bridge would have been a hybrid suspension-truss structure with a height of over 900 meters
(3000 feet), overshadowing any existing structure.
A bridge was ruled out because of the depth of the strait (900 metres, 3000 feet).
Because of the large number of ships moving through the Gibraltar corridor and the severe
currents in the strait, a floating bridge was not a possibility.
Spain and Morocco agreed in December 2003 to investigate the possibility of building
an undersea rail tunnel to connect their train systems.
Lombardi Engineering Ltd, a Swiss engineering and design firm, was hired in late 2006 to
prepare a railway tunnel design.
The feasibility of the tunnel was questioned in a 2008 geological analysis.
In March 2009, the Moroccan Société Nationale d'Etudes du Détroit de Gibraltar (SNED) and
its Spanish equivalent, Sociedad Espaola de Estudios para la Comunicación Fija a través
del Estrecho de Gibraltar SA, signed a deal for a cooperative system linking the two organizations
(SECEGSA).
In 2009, the EU was presented with a study on the tunnel's viability.
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This 38-kilometer-long excavated tunnel between Spain and Morocco has been suggested since
1869.
Many versions of the scheme have been put forward over the last 150 years, with the
most recent developed from 1996 and based on the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France.
In January 2021, it was reported that the United Kingdom and Morocco would discuss building
the crossing between Gibraltar and Tangiers.
In the latest plan, solar energy produced in Africa could also be transported to Europe
through the tunnel.
The British government led by prime minister Boris Johnson is studying the completion of
an undersea tunnel linking Gibraltar to Tangiers, in partnership with the Moroccan government.
Britain and Morocco are considering reviving a decades-old plan to connect Europe and Africa
via a tunnel connecting the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar to the Moroccan city
of Tangier in the north.
Discussion on plans for the first tunnel connecting Europe and Africa has been discussed since
the late nineteenth century.
The tunnel connecting Spain and Morocco from Tarifa to Tangier was estimated to cost $9.4
billion when originally proposed in 1869.
Due to unsuitable tunneling terrain and funding constraints, this project was never completed.
However, the project reportedly resurfaced following Brexit, as Prime Minister Boris
Johnson's cabinet seeks new trade opportunities and relations.
This was disputed by the Spanish newspaper DIARIO DE CADIZ, which reported that a recent
study conducted by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Herrenknecht, one of the
world's largest tunneling firms, established the feasibility of the 38-kilometer tunnel.
With the likelihood of developing trade relations with Morocco, this project is being studied
and considered seriously, according to a report by The Arab Weekly.
The governments of both countries have enlisted the help of veteran Swiss tunnel engineer
Giovanni Lombardi to devise a plan for constructing the only direct physical link between the
two continents.
After his report, which will be based on recent extensive studies of the geological structures
under the strait, is submitted next year, exploratory tunneling could begin.
"We are just beginning the work, but I would say this is more difficult than the Channel
tunnel," Mr Lombardi told the Guardian.
"The main difference is the depth of the sea but the geological conditions are also different."
Mr Giovanni estimates that it will take 15 years to build the 25-mile dual rail tunnel
after preliminary studies and exploration tunnels are completed.
According to Spanish experts working on the project, rail passengers might be traveling
to and from Africa by 2025 if no major geological or technical issues develop.
It would be a double rail tunnel with a service tunnel in between, carrying 9 million passengers
in the first year and 11 million after ten years.
In 2025, it may also transport 8 million tonnes of cargo.
High-speed trains were scheduled to run through the tunnel, shortening travel times and allowing
free flow of traffic between the two countries.
Furthermore, the tunnel was built to ease the transit of solar energy generated in Africa
to Europe.
In 2020, following the infamous "Brexit," a partnership agreement was signed in which
Morocco and the UK agreed to use the Strait of Gibraltar as a potential hub for a 38-kilometer
tunnel connecting the two countries.
According to reports, Britain would be overjoyed that this project has been given the green
light.
Despite the fact that Spain was the frontrunner for this project for many years rather than
Morocco, the project was never greenlit.
Thus, the British have capitalized on the situation by selecting Morocco as Spain's
successor.
This tunnel line will link Europe and Africa via the cities closest to the Rock of Gibraltar.
The tunnel's foundation will be constructed near the Mediterranean port of Tangier.
Previously, the 30-kilometer tunnel connecting Spain and Morocco was designed as a 27-kilometer
underwater tunnel with a maximum depth of 475 meters and a slope of 3%.
The project could be a suspended bridge on fixed pillars, a suspended bridge on floating
pillars or a submerged and supported tunnel on the seabed similar to the tunnel linking
Britain and France, depending on current technologies and the geographical landscape.
As far as tunnel design is concerned, a variety of technologies could most likely be used
depending on the current state of funds and how much the United Kingdom is willing to
spend in light of the pandemic's impact on the nation.
At the present time, the two parties do not formally confirm they have a realistic plan
for the project, but the intention to complete that tunnel or bridge between Morocco and
Gibraltar has been in negotiations since the signing of agreements between the two countries
in October 2019.
The first strategic dialogue between the United Kingdom and Morocco took place on July 2018
in London, and was hosted by then-Minister of Foreign Affairs Boris Johnson and attended
by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.
It aimed to strengthen cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and security
fields.
British officials foresee special relations between Morocco and the United Kingdom if
the European Union ratifies the agreements between Spain and the United Kingdom regarding
the future of Gibraltar within the Schengen area.
They believe the tunnel could mean for the United Kingdom keeping an open gateway with
Europe in direct competition within Algeciras.
Significant barriers remain, as a 4 km stretch of the underwater section is reported to contain
clay soils that may be difficult to tunnel through.
Mr Lombardi said he would also have to take into account a history of earthquakes in the
region, including the 1960 quake in the Moroccan city of Agadir and the 1755 quake centred
near Lisbon, Portugal.
Because of the importance of the project, it has been speculated that Boris Johnson
will travel to Rabat, Morocco's capital, in order to advance the project, which would
include Gibraltar, in the near future.
Before taking office, Boris Johnson, in his capacity as British foreign minister, was
responsible for establishing this new strategic relationship with the Kingdom, which began
with a series of meetings in 2018 with his Moroccan counterpart, NASSER BOURITA, during
which issues relating to the economy, culture, and security were discussed.
After taking office, Boris Johnson has continued this work.
Aside from that, because the United Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union,
Moroccan agricultural products can now be substituted for Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian
products in the United Kingdom, among other countries.
International law expert Sabre Al-haq believes that Morocco is a viable alternative for Britain
in order to compensate for agricultural products that it used to import from Spain, Portugal,
and Italy prior to the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union (EU).
As a result of Morocco's offer to the British in exchange for better European ties, the
relationship between the two countries grew even stronger.
A gateway to Africa's culturally rich continent would be given to the British in exchange.
One issue that needs to be addressed immediately is the issue of the borders in and around
Morocco, with the train serving as the primary mode of transportation throughout the entire
process, which is currently underway.
They have confidence that the tunnel will be a source of revenue to help keep the European
Gateway operational.
This initiative will be extremely beneficial to Morocco.
Morocco will benefit politically and economically from close cooperation with the United Kingdom,
since it will be able to sell agricultural products and export other resources.
These objectives, on the other hand, can only be carried out once a framework of strategic
agreements has been developed, resulting in Morocco's economic and political development.
Morocco and the United Kingdom agreed in 2019 to continue Moroccan-European trade links
following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union.
Aside from the trade agreement, the two nations have reached a number of agreements, including
a mutual agreement for the export of Moroccan Sahara products to the British market, such
as fish and phosphates.
Morocco has volunteered to act as the UK's gateway to Africa, as the two countries' relations
have improved since Brexit.
Despite the fact that the tunnel is still in its early stages, it is seen as a game-changer
for both countries.
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