Europe: Europe Energy Profile

Europe Energy Profile

Mining employs only a small portion of the work force. It supplies an important share of essential raw materials and fuels; however, the larger share must be imported. Coal, found in a belt from Great Britain across northern Europe into Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Germany, and Russia, is one of the most abundant minerals and has long been mined. Also fairly plentiful is iron ore, coming mainly from the Krivoy Rog fields of Ukraine and from Sweden and the Lorraine area of France. Natural gas is found in great quantities in the Groningen fields of the Netherlands, Russia and the United Kingdom, and in offshore North Sea sites. In addition to natural gas, vast quantities of oil lie beneath the North Sea. North Sea oil and natural gas are extracted primarily by Great Britain and Norway. The chief petroleum producers are Norway, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

Metals are mined in virtually all parts of the continent; quantities vary greatly from country to country. The Ural Mountains of Russia have rich deposits of numerous metallic minerals. Western Europe produces moderate amounts of zinc, lead, copper, and bauxite. Many of the other mined products of Europe, including diamonds, nickel, platinum, potash, silver, and zinc, exist primarily in Russia.

Europe’s energy comes from coal-burning power plants, hydropower (water power) facilities, and nuclear power, apart from natural gas, oil and renewable energy resources. Beginning in the late 20th century, Europe invested in methods of generating energy from renewable sources, such as the power of ocean tides, rivers, sunlight, and wind.