Industrial Power in Europe: Resources & Sectors

Industrial Power in Europe: Resources and Sectors

Europe is a major industrial power, despite a limited supply of raw materials and energy sources.

Raw Materials in Europe

Europe has a deficit in mineral raw materials.

• Iron: Deposits in Southwestern Great Britain, Germany, and Northern France have become less significant. Russia remains a major global producer.
• Other Minerals: Many deposits are exhausted, such as British tin, and French aluminum or Spanish copper. Europe lacks essential minerals such as titanium and tungsten, and is forced to import large quantities of raw materials.

Energy Sources in Europe

Europe is also deficient in energy sources globally, which forces it to import nearly half of its energy.

• Coal: Abundant in the past, production is now low. Only Russia has many deposits.
• Petroleum: The abundance of North Sea oilfields and Russia is decreasing.
• Natural Gas: Many deposits in Russia, the North Sea, and to a lesser extent in Greece, Ireland, and Denmark.
• Nuclear Energy: Europe is the world's largest producer, concentrated in France, Germany, Russia, the UK, and Ukraine.
• Hydroelectricity: Production is stagnant, due to limited new facilities and criticism from environmental groups. Producer countries are: Russia, Norway, Sweden, France, and Italy.
• Renewable Energies: Still have low participation, although all countries are developing plans to promote them.

Industrial Activity in Europe

The employed population has been decreasing since the 1970s. In 2005, it stood at 25.59% of the active population. Technological levels and investment in research and development vary from region to region, being high in countries of Western Europe. The size of enterprises varies, with many SMEs.

Industrial Sectors in Europe

• Traditional: In decline, such as steel, shipbuilding, and textiles, due to technological obsolescence.
• Dynamic: Strong demand and high technology development, including food industries, chemicals, and vehicle manufacturing engineering.
• High Technology: Such as telematics and biotechnology, are rapidly developing.

Industrial Areas in Europe

Industrial areas are unevenly distributed.

• Western Europe: The main industrialized area is situated in the English Channel.
• Eastern Europe: Industrial areas are located in Ukraine, Russia, and the Urals. They are specialized in traditional sectors and have suffered serious problems.