Could sky-high energy prices force some ski resorts in Norway to remain closed?
High electricity prices and the prospect of power rationing could spell big trouble for Norway's smaller ski centres.
Record high energy prices mean some ski resorts in Norway are facing the prospect of staying shut this winter, business and financial newspaper Dagens Næringsliv reports.
"We constantly have to make an ongoing assessment of it, but in the worst case, we have to close the slope," Knut Styrvold, chairman of the Kirkerudbakken ski centre in Bærum municipality, told the paper.
Industry organisation Norwegian Alpine Resorts and Mountain Destinations sent a letter last week to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and the Minister of Culture calling for measures from the state to help businesses struggling with energy costs.
Some of the highest costs for an alpine resort are artificial snow production, which requires large amounts of power.
"In our area, with the prices that are predicted now, we are looking at a tenfold increase in power costs, perhaps more for the coming winter," Odd Stensrud, deputy chairman of the industry organisation and general manager of Alpinco, which owns and operates the alpine resorts at Hafjell and Kvitfjell, told the paper.
Larger resorts and firms should be able to manage as they have agreements where they pre-pay for energy in bulk, meaning they may not necessarily have paid current high prices for the energy they will use in snow production. However, the general manager of Alpinco added that larger resorts could still end up paying double what they paid last year.
Support for smaller resorts, and the business community in general, have yet to be announced by the government. According to Stensrud, this means many resorts may opt against running the lifts this winter.
"If the electricity prices that are signalled for the coming winter become a reality, then it is absolutely certain that it will mean the hook on the door for several locations," he said.
"It is important to remember that the alpine resorts are often the core business in many mountain destinations and local communities. They keep the other tourism activities going in mountain municipalities in Norway and are crucial to ensure that districts and municipalities are not hit too hard by electricity prices," Strensud added.
Earlier this week, Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland said that the government and parliamentary leaders were "working closely to find a fair arrangement for business".
A plan for businesses is expected to be unveiled during the next month.
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Record high energy prices mean some ski resorts in Norway are facing the prospect of staying shut this winter, business and financial newspaper Dagens Næringsliv reports.
"We constantly have to make an ongoing assessment of it, but in the worst case, we have to close the slope," Knut Styrvold, chairman of the Kirkerudbakken ski centre in Bærum municipality, told the paper.
Industry organisation Norwegian Alpine Resorts and Mountain Destinations sent a letter last week to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and the Minister of Culture calling for measures from the state to help businesses struggling with energy costs.
Some of the highest costs for an alpine resort are artificial snow production, which requires large amounts of power.
"In our area, with the prices that are predicted now, we are looking at a tenfold increase in power costs, perhaps more for the coming winter," Odd Stensrud, deputy chairman of the industry organisation and general manager of Alpinco, which owns and operates the alpine resorts at Hafjell and Kvitfjell, told the paper.
Larger resorts and firms should be able to manage as they have agreements where they pre-pay for energy in bulk, meaning they may not necessarily have paid current high prices for the energy they will use in snow production. However, the general manager of Alpinco added that larger resorts could still end up paying double what they paid last year.
Support for smaller resorts, and the business community in general, have yet to be announced by the government. According to Stensrud, this means many resorts may opt against running the lifts this winter.
"If the electricity prices that are signalled for the coming winter become a reality, then it is absolutely certain that it will mean the hook on the door for several locations," he said.
"It is important to remember that the alpine resorts are often the core business in many mountain destinations and local communities. They keep the other tourism activities going in mountain municipalities in Norway and are crucial to ensure that districts and municipalities are not hit too hard by electricity prices," Strensud added.
Earlier this week, Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland said that the government and parliamentary leaders were "working closely to find a fair arrangement for business".
A plan for businesses is expected to be unveiled during the next month.
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