Giant underwater tunnels linking Africa to Europe... What's happening?
Billions of euros worth of projects to secure global trade
Written by Omnia Hassan
Heading The African continent Europe is considering implementing two massive underwater tunnel projects, a move that could redraw the map of trade and transport between the two continents, amid escalating risks threatening vital global shipping lanes.
Moroccan-Portuguese project to strengthen trade ties
The proposal to build an underwater highway linking Morocco and Portugal is gaining increasing attention, with an estimated cost of more than 800 million euros. The project aims to create a new trade corridor connecting Africa Northern Morocco will connect southern Portugal via a sea tunnel, providing a strategic alternative to traditional sea routes that are prone to disruption.
According to media reports, the project will connect the highway network north of Tangier with the Portuguese Algarve region, with logistical support and integrated transport and communications infrastructure. This project is seen as a qualitative step to enhance the movement of goods and reduce transit time between the two continents.
Advanced engineering technologies
The proposed tunnel design is based on advanced engineering standards, including a double tunnel with separate lanes for each direction, in addition to emergency passages and advanced ventilation and safety systems. The plans also include the use of deep drilling techniques and prefabricated submerged sections to deal with geological conditions and seabed pressure.
Engineers involved in the preliminary studies confirm that the project is “not science fiction,” but a feasible plan based on the latest marine infrastructure technologies.
The Morocco-Spain project is back in the spotlight
In conjunction with the Portuguese project, talk has returned to the giant sea tunnel project between Morocco and Spain, which is estimated to cost between 15 and 20 billion euros and extends for a distance of approximately 42 kilometers, including 27 kilometers under the sea, to connect southern Spain with the Moroccan city of Tangier.
The tunnel is expected to contribute to the transport of passengers and goods in just about 30 minutes, making it one of the most important strategic connectivity projects between Africa and Europe.
A new strategy to address shipping crises
These projects reflect a growing trend among African and European governments to diversify trade routes and reduce reliance on sensitive sea lanes, especially with increasing geopolitical tensions in vital areas such as the Strait of Hormuz. Observers believe that these tunnels could represent a new economic artery in the future, enhancing the stability of global trade and giving Africa a greater role in international transport.
