From pithead to piste
In a quiet corner of Piotrków Trybunalski, the slag heaps of Bełchatów are taking on another shape. The dirty mountains of lignite waste are being transformed into pikes and pistes as the mine's owners hope to cash in on Poland's love of skiing.
In the Alps of France, Italy and Austria ski resorts are frequently stock-listed companies. Here in southwestern Poland, the Bełchatów Coal Mine has ploughed zł.15 million into three kilometers of serviced runs, a snowboard park, a ski lift, T-bar drags, an army of snow-making machines, a hotel and restaurant complex and parking for 500 cars.
"We are planning to open our resort in the middle of December," says Bełchatów Coal Mine's Wojciech Wiśniewski. "The ski lift can transport around two thousand people per hour. It is located near several cities, thus, we expect many skiers.
"Currently we are finishing up preparing three slopes, each of which have almost one kilometer in length," adds Wiśniewski.
For now the resort will be controlled by the coalmine, whose owner hopes the investment will break even within three years. Wiśniewski is not inclined to discuss profit predictions, saying income will be very dependent on temperatures. He explains: "It all depends on the weather. If the temperature remains below minus 3 degrees, then we can produce more snow so more people can ski."
In the Alps of France, Italy and Austria ski resorts are frequently stock-listed companies. Here in southwestern Poland, the Bełchatów Coal Mine has ploughed zł.15 million into three kilometers of serviced runs, a snowboard park, a ski lift, T-bar drags, an army of snow-making machines, a hotel and restaurant complex and parking for 500 cars.
"We are planning to open our resort in the middle of December," says Bełchatów Coal Mine's Wojciech Wiśniewski. "The ski lift can transport around two thousand people per hour. It is located near several cities, thus, we expect many skiers.
"Currently we are finishing up preparing three slopes, each of which have almost one kilometer in length," adds Wiśniewski.
For now the resort will be controlled by the coalmine, whose owner hopes the investment will break even within three years. Wiśniewski is not inclined to discuss profit predictions, saying income will be very dependent on temperatures. He explains: "It all depends on the weather. If the temperature remains below minus 3 degrees, then we can produce more snow so more people can ski."
