Austria must import more than 70 percent of its bituminous coal and lignite. It also imports more than 80 percent of its oil and natural gas. Some petroleum and natural gas come from wells east of Vienna. There is a refinery at Schwechat, a suburb of Vienna. Oil from the Middle East is brought by pipeline from Trieste in Italy.
Natural gas is imported from Russia by pipeline.
Lignite is mined locally in small quantities and is burned to generate electricity. About half of the electricity produced comes from hydroelectric power stations on Alpine rivers and on the Danube. A nuclear power station built near Vienna was protested, and, after a national referendum in 1978, it was not used. Production of metallic minerals is significant, and Austria mines iron ore, lead, zinc, copper, and magnesite. Iron ore is mined in the southern area of the country.