Industry, construction, and energy

3. INDUSTRY, CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY THE EVOLUTION OF SPANISH INDUSTRY -

Spanish industry began to evolve when it experienced the Industrial Revolution.

This did not happen until the 19 th century.

We can distinguish several periods in the 20 th and 21 st centuries: - 1950s and 1960s: - industrial development begins in major cities.

- 1970s: - industrial cities throughout the world, causing energy prices to rise.

- 1980s: - industrial restructuring makes it possible to recover from the crisis, aided by Spain’s entry into the EEC. - 1990s: - new industrial gowth. Investment in the iron and steel industry and shipyards decreases, and innovation and investment in technology industries.

- 21 st century: - the globalisation of the economy has encouraged offshoring, which involves closing factories in Spain and moving production to countries with lower labour costs.

- This has combined with the effects of the international crisis, causing a great impact in the Spanish construction.

3. INDUSTRY, CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY THE LOCATION OF INDUSTRY

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There are imbalances in he teriorial distribution of industry. It is oncentrated at the main indistrial hubs and urban areas.

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The evolution of industry in Spain:

1.

Declining industrial areas: They are located around the cantabrian coast in Galicia, Asurias, Cantabria and PaĂ­s Vasco.

The heavy industries have undergone a restructuring process.

2.

Subsidised industrial areas: They are located in the coast of Andalucia, around the Guadalquivir and inland urban areas such as Valladolid and Puertollano.

Industrial development use to receive aid through government plans.

Today it is in decline 3. Inland industrial gaps: - Inland Spain has very littleindustrialisation although there are some agri-food processing plants.

4. Dynamic industrial areas: - They are located along the Mediterranean, CataluĂąa, valencia, Murcia, along the Ebro and Madrid.

3. INDUSTRY, CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY -

CONSTRUCTION This is a labour- intensive sector.

It employs a large number of workers with few skills, o build or refurbish buildings, or create industrial structures or infrastructural elements.

It also requires trained professionals, such as architects and engineers to lan projects.

Several Spanish construction companies have an international presence, leading major projects such as: - the expansion of the Panama Canal - The high-speed train from Medina to Mecca - The underground railway system in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

3. INDUSTRY, CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY ENERGY DEPENDENCE -Spain has no oil or other non-renewable energy sources.

- It is necessary to import most of its energy from abroad.

- Most electricity production is still obtained from nonrenewable energies: nuclear and thermal power plants.

- Spain currently has seven nuclear reactors. Theu produce around 20% of al electricity consumed in Spain.

- In recent years, renewable energy roduction has increased significantly: wind, solar, hydroelectric and biomass.