Europe / Caspian / CIS
Country profile: Spain
| Location: | Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France |
| Climate: | temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast |
| Terrain: | large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north |
| Size: | 504782 sq. km total (Land area: 499542 sq. km Water area: 5240 sq.km) |
| Population: | 40,491,051 (July 2008 est.) |
| Languages: | Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%, are official regionally |
| Government: | parliamentary monarchy |
| Capital city: | Madrid |
| Legal system: | civil law system, with regional applications; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations |
| Currency: | euro (EUR) |
| Licensing: |
Country profile
Both Spain and Portugal have been members of the European Union (EU) since 1986. EU membership has led to an increased standard of living and economic growth in the Iberian Peninsula and billions of dollars worth of EU structural funds flowing into the two countries. Nevertheless, both countries continue to face economic challenges. Spain's unemployment rate remains stubbornly high, while Portugal has repeatedly exceeded the EU's limits on budget deficits. Economic growth spurred by EU membership has led to increases in energy consumption.
For example, Spain's energy demand has increased over 100 percent since the mid-1970s. The Iberian Peninsula has limited energy resources, so both Spain and Portugal must depend upon imports for the bulk of their energy needs. Attempts to develop domestic energy sources, though, have focused on hydropower and renewables. Both countries have also sought greater integration of the Iberian energy sector through policy coordination and infrastructure projects. The two announced in 2001 that they would create a single Iberian electricity market without limits on transnational ownership or market participation. However, repeated delays have pushed implementation of this market, called Mibel, until October 2007.
Energy production and consumption
| Oil | Gas | |
| Production: | 29,350 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 151 million cu m (2005 est.) |
| Consumption: | 1 million bbl/day (2005 est.) | 30 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Exports: | 175,200 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
| Imports: | 1 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 31 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Reserves: | 157 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.) | 2 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Major fields: |
Spain - recent news
| 07 Sep 25 |
Spain: Zelestra delivers full commercial operations at the 50.4 MWdc José Cabrera solar plant in Spain Zelestra, a global, multi-technology, customer-focused renewable energy company, has announced full commercial operations at the 50.4 MWdc José Cabrera solar plant in Guadalajara, Spain. |
| 03 Sep 25 |
Spain: Q ENERGY expands Iberian footprint with a 252 MW hybrid solar portfolio Q ENERGY has achieved debt financial close on 'Taurus B', a portfolio of seven solar PV plants in Spain with a total capacity of 251.71 MWp. All projects are under construction and in the process of hybridization with battery storage |
| 26 Aug 25 |
Spain: Prospex Energy announces Viura field update Prospex Energy, the AIM quoted investing company focused on European gas and power projects, has been advised by the Operator of the Viura field, HEYCO Energia Iberia, that the recompletion workover of the Viura-1B well, in the Viura gas field in northern Spain, was achieved without the need for a coil tubing unit, resulting in significant cost savings. Initial flow tests confirm potential for high flow rates from the Viura-1B well. |
| 31 Jul 25 |
Spain/Italy: Prospex Energy provides Q2-2025 Selva activity report and general operational update AIM-listed Prospex Energy has provided an update on operations at its three main assets, the Viura gas field in northern Spain, the El Romeral power plant in southern Spain and including an update from the Selva Malvezzi production concession in northern Italy following the publication by Po Valley Energy of its Q2-2025 activity report. |
| 03 Jul 25 |
Spain: Plenitude begins construction of a new 200 MW solar park in Spain Plenitude continues to expand its renewables business in Spain with start of the construction of Entrenúcleos, a new 200 MW photovoltaic project located in the municipalities of Dos Hermanas and Coria del Río, in the province of Seville (Andalusia). |
Spain - more news
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