The Nation (Nairobi)
Paul Redfern
13 April 2007
London — A 40 kilometre tunnel between Europe and Africa, which is already being talked about as one of the wonders of the modern world, is likely to start construction next year.
The commencement is awaiting a final finance agreement on £8 billion project.
With the Spanish and Moroccan governments now in agreement that the twin-tracked rail tunnel - similar in design to the Channel tunnel between the UK and France - should go ahead, the only question appears to be who will pay the bill.
Key designers
A large chunk of money is likely to come from the European Union but money will also have to be raised in both Spain and Morocco.
Plans are now at such an advanced stage that key designers from Switzerland, France, Spain and Morocco are already working on the design, which will be at least 1,000ft deep in places, at least five times the depth of the Channel tunnel.
The man being entrusted with putting the whole project together is Mr Giovanni Lombardi, who has already been involved with many great construction projects, including the Gotthard Pass tunnel in Switzerland and the Mont Blanc tunnel. The latter links France and Italy through the Alps.
He told the BBC that the project was his toughest assignment yet.
"No works in the world compare to this one. There are a lot of challenges.
"First of all, the sea at this point is 300 metres deep. Then there is the geological conditions. There are quite a lot of tectonic movements between the African and European plates. So there would be quite a lot of movements in the earth, of stresses and so on."
Current work is focused on a cliff top outside Tangier where a shaft descends some 300 metres below sea level.
It is there that scientists and engineers are examining the sea bed to see how difficult it will be to drill into the rock.
The rock strata is known to be a lot more complicated than under the channel. Engineers need to know what to expect before construction can begin.
But the project has its detractors.
Many of those are to do with the potential cost.
Critics point out the Channel tunnel has been experiencing continuing financial difficulties since its construction and is constantly in debt.
But there are also those who believe the tunnel will become a magnet for people trying to gain entry to the European Union from Africa.
Already, many try to make the hazardous crossing from Morocco or Tunisia to Spain and Italy in small boats.
Detractors say that the tunnel will be swamped by people trying to find a better life for themselves in Europe.
But the view is in a minority.
With trade expanding between north Africa in particular and Europe, a quick rail link will make imports and exports much more efficient.
There is also a belief that with the tunnel completed, European investment would flood into north Africa.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero said his government is fully committed to the project.
A great symbol
"It will be a great symbol of our time.
"It will change the face of Europe and Africa. With support from members of the European Union, we can build this historic connection between the two continents."
Moroccan transport minister Karim Ghellab agreed, saying it was important that the two continents are joined by a fixed link.
"It would ease communications between the two countries (Morocco and Spain), and allow passengers and goods to move easily between the two continents.
It's an historic project which the world needs today and it will go ahead."
Meanwhile, construction of a new deep sea gas pipeline between Algeria and Spain should be completed on schedule for a 2009 start, the chairman of the Medgaz consortium said on Thursday.
"Right now what we can say is we are meeting both the timescale and the budget agreed," Pedro Miro said in an interview.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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