GLOBAL OIL

Rollover map, or click to enlarge

After many decades of isolation and Fascist economic controls, Spain joined the European Union in 1986. The country opened and modernized its economy in conformity with EU guidelines.

This resulted in increased economic growth, but Spain still lags behind the other major Western European nations.

In addition, like other developed economies, Spain does not possess enough petroleum reserves to support itself and must import oil. The country imports almost all of its domestic oil requirements -- one of the highest levels in Europe.

Making matters worse, Spain's energy consumption has doubled over the last 20 years and continues to rise by 6% a year.