The Impact of World War II on Gas Production in Latin Europe

During World War II, the problems that the gas sector faced were the lack and the increased cost of coal, the raw material with which most of the gas was manufactured, but it also had difficulties to obtain materials and equipment to maintain the facilities. Likewise, the mobilisation of manpower to the frontlines, particularly skilled workers, who were difficult to replace. And, unquestionably, war operations and total war, which distorted the traffic of goods and people, as well as communications, which affected the capacity to make decisions. In addition, in the United Kingdom, France and Italy the facilities suffered attacks, and, occasionally, in the latter two countries the assets were on both sides as the war progressed. This chapter deals, for the first time, with the challenges faced by the gas industry in Latin Europe, specifically, in Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, but also in the United Kingdom, the leading European gas industry at that time. These all represent warring and neutral countries. To do this, the text will focus on the analysis of gas production, evaluating the aforementioned obstacles that this sector had to cope with.