Europe and Africa are weighing two large underwater tunnel projects valued at €800 million and up to €20 billion as part of wider efforts to diversify trade routes amid increasing instability in global shipping corridors.
Attention is growing around a proposed subsea link between Morocco and Portugal, as African countries look for more secure alternatives to disrupted maritime trade routes.
The plan, which carries an estimated price tag of over €800 million, would connect North Africa to southern Europe through an underwater passage, forming what planners describe as a “proximity corridor” across the Atlantic.
Reports on the initiative were first published by Portuguese media outlet OkDiario and later referenced by Morocco World News, although official approval from governments has not yet been confirmed.
Design and technical framework
Based on available reports, the route would integrate Morocco’s road infrastructure north of Tangier with Portugal’s Algarve region and the A22 motorway, supported by logistics systems on land and linked maritime services.
Engineers involved in early discussions say the scheme represents “an infrastructure leap that changes how we understand the territory.”
Planned as a modular development, construction would take place in stages to avoid disrupting transport systems, with oversight expected from a joint consortium applying unified standards for safety, compatibility, and environmental protection.
Design features include a twin-tube tunnel with separate directions of travel and an emergency service passage. Ventilation would rely on longitudinal extraction systems supported by pressurised control points, alongside safety shelters and modern monitoring systems.
Early technical concepts also explore the use of prefabricated submerged sections and tunnel-boring machines adapted for seabed pressure and geological conditions.
“This is not science fiction; it is complex engineering with high safety margins,” technical sources noted.
Uncertainty and verification gaps
Despite growing interest, several aspects of the proposal remain unconfirmed. One major Moroccan media outlet has said it has not been able to independently verify the details and has requested clarification from Portuguese authorities, with no official response yet received.
Final construction costs are also expected to fluctuate depending on seismic risks and seabed composition.
Parallel Morocco–Spain tunnel plans resurface
The renewed focus on the Morocco–Portugal link comes as Europe and Africa explore broader infrastructure options aimed at reducing dependence on fragile global shipping routes.
At the same time, a long-discussed subsea rail tunnel between Morocco and Spain is also regaining momentum.
That separate project, valued between €15 billion and €20 billion, would stretch about 42 kilometres in total, including 27 kilometres underwater, connecting Punta Paloma in Spain with Cape Malabata near Tangier. Spain’s contribution alone is estimated at over €8.5 billion.
Designed for both passenger and freight transport, the tunnel could reduce travel time between the two continents to around 30 minutes, potentially transforming regional trade and mobility patterns.
Strategic shift in Africa’s trade routes
Together, both initiatives highlight a broader strategic shift as African governments and investors move toward more resilient and diversified transport systems, responding to ongoing risks in key maritime passages such as the Strait of Hormuz and other global chokepoints.