Europe and Africa could soon be linked by two underwater tunnel projects worth €800m and €20bn as shipping risks rise

Africa and Europe are exploring two major subsea tunnel projects worth €800 million and up to €20 billion as part of broader efforts to diversify trade routes amid rising risks in global shipping corridors.

• A proposed undersea highway is being considered to connect Morocco and Portugal, aiming to provide Africa with alternative trade routes amid global shipping disruptions.
• The project, estimated at over €800 million, involves an underwater tunnel linking road networks in northern Morocco and southern Portugal.
• Interest in this project coincides with renewed momentum for a separate, much larger Morocco–Spain undersea rail tunnel, expected to cost up to €20 billion.
• Both projects reflect a broader strategy to diversify Africa’s trade corridors and reduce reliance on vulnerable maritime chokepoints.

A proposed undersea highway linking Morocco and Portugal is gaining attention as African economies intensify efforts to secure alternative trade routes amid persistent disruptions in global shipping lanes.

The project, estimated to cost more than €800 million would connect North Africa to southern Europe through an underwater tunnel, creating what planners describe as a “proximity corridor” across the Atlantic.

The development was first reported by Portuguese outlet OkDiario and cited by Morocco World News, though official confirmation from authorities remains pending.

Design and technical framework

According to the reports, the corridor would link Morocco’s high-capacity road network north of Tangier to Portugal’s Algarve network and the A22 motorway, supported by land logistics infrastructure and complementary maritime connections.

Engineers involved in the early stages said the project represents “an infrastructure leap that changes how we understand the territory.”

The development is structured as a “modular project,” allowing phased construction without disrupting regional traffic, with coordination expected through a joint consortium operating under unified standards for safety, interoperability and environmental sustainability.

The design includes a dual-bore tunnel with separate lanes for each direction and a technical emergency corridor. Ventilation systems would combine longitudinal extraction with pressurised control points, alongside shelters and advanced safety systems.

Technical plans under review include prefabricated submerged sections and excavation using tunnel-boring machines adapted to seabed pressure and geological conditions.

“This is not science fiction; it is complex engineering with high safety margins,” technical sources said.

Uncertainty and verification gaps

However, key elements of the proposal remain unverified. A major Moroccan news outlet said it could not independently confirm the details and has sought clarification from the Portuguese government, with no response so far.

Final project costs are also expected to vary depending on factors such as seismic risk and seabed geology.

Parallel Morocco–Spain tunnel plans resurface

The renewed focus on the Morocco–Portugal corridor comes as Africa and Europe explore new infrastructure to reduce reliance on vulnerable global chokepoints.

A separate subsea rail tunnel linking Morocco and Spain, long under consideration, is also regaining momentum.

That project, estimated at between €15 billion and €20 billion, would span about 42 kilometres, including roughly 27 kilometres underwater, connecting Punta Paloma in Spain to Cape Malabata near Tangier. Spain’s share alone is projected at more than €8.5 billion.

The tunnel, designed to carry both passengers and freight, could cut travel time between the two continents to about 30 minutes, potentially reshaping trade flows across the region.

Strategic shift in Africa’s trade routes

Together, the projects underscore a broader shift in Africa’s trade strategy, as governments and investors seek more resilient and diversified transport corridors in response to ongoing risks in key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.