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KEPCO Open Letter

Can you help us get the ear of the KEPCO CEO? We're calling on him to sell the land back for agriculture so our community can rebuild. Will you join us?

Phill Kennedy, President, Bylong Valley Protection Alliance


Dear Cheong Seung-il, CEO, KEPCO,

Today the NSW Court of Appeal ruled against KEPCO on appeal which means that the proposed Bylong coal project cannot proceed.

We, the undersigned, are calling on you to respond by relinquishing the exploration lease for the project and selling the land back to agricultural interests. We can see no valid basis for KEPCO to continue with the project. 

The Bylong proposal is beset by severe environmental, social and economic risks. There is fierce and widespread opposition to the project in Australia and both of KEPCO’s legal challenges have failed.

It is also a legacy project planned and conceived many years ago that now has no place given the energy transformation that is underway. 

South Korea’s new electricity plan - finalised in December 2020 - will see thermal coal consumption drop by almost 19 million tonnes per annum by 2030.  The Bylong coal project is inconsistent with this Green New Deal that is underway.

We note that KEPCO has advised the Korean Government that they have recently had an offer for purchase of the land from agricultural interests.

In order to avoid sinking yet more large sums of money into a stranded asset that will besmirch KEPCO’s reputation, we encourage you to relinquish the exploration lease and enable the land to be returned to agriculture and nature conservation.

Regenerative agriculture and carbon farming at Bylong would provide a global climate benefit that would be a credit to KEPCO.

Please act now to relinquish the exploration lease and enable the local community to rebuild around a new, clean future.

Will you sign?


Showing 30 reactions

  • Carole Lush
    signed 2021-09-16 10:37:28 +1000
  • Peta Terry
    signed 2021-09-16 10:33:28 +1000
    This would be a wonderful outcome of lasting benefit to the local community, our country & the planet’s green future.
  • Ian James
    signed 2021-09-16 10:30:55 +1000
  • Michelle Britton
    signed 2021-09-16 10:24:53 +1000
  • Susan Cook
    signed 2021-09-16 10:24:26 +1000
  • Derek Bolton
    signed 2021-09-16 10:16:28 +1000
  • Valerie Brown
    signed 2021-09-16 10:13:06 +1000
  • Graham Herkess
    signed 2021-09-16 10:12:23 +1000
  • Robert Coenraads
    signed 2021-09-16 10:11:11 +1000
  • Norman Looker
    signed 2021-09-16 10:10:31 +1000
  • Jen Powers
    signed 2021-09-16 10:06:44 +1000
  • Jenny Forster
    signed 2021-09-16 10:04:57 +1000
    Food for the future.
  • Lindsay Hotker
    signed 2021-09-16 10:02:58 +1000
  • Rod Ewings
    signed 2021-09-16 09:58:38 +1000
  • Jodie Winnell
    signed 2021-09-16 09:55:59 +1000
  • Gary Davidson
    signed 2021-09-16 09:53:26 +1000
  • Lesley Revell
    signed 2021-09-16 09:53:03 +1000
  • Amy Stephens
    signed 2021-09-16 09:52:43 +1000
  • Nancy Dixon
    signed 2021-09-16 09:50:17 +1000
    After the enormous devastation they have caused, I hope KEPCO can redeem themselves in small measure by allowing the land to revert to farming families and rebuild your community
  • Kerri Francis
    signed 2021-09-16 09:50:11 +1000
  • Mark Peirce
    signed 2021-09-16 09:47:28 +1000
  • Troy Wello
    signed 2021-09-16 09:46:54 +1000
  • Linden Turner
    signed 2021-09-16 09:44:39 +1000
    Please help to reduce climate impacts and make steps to return this beautiful area to community, natural and cultural significance.
  • Margaret May
    signed 2021-09-16 09:42:42 +1000
    Well done and good luck for the future. We are with you all the way.
  • Annie Close
    signed 2021-09-16 09:39:55 +1000
  • Joanne Vanhees
    signed 2021-09-16 09:38:58 +1000
  • alan thompson
    signed 2021-09-16 09:38:55 +1000
    My son n his wife n 2 boys live there and this is good news for them. No mine…so KEPCO, sell the land for agriculture asap.
  • Valerie Law
    signed 2021-09-16 09:38:21 +1000
    Please
  • Richard Coleman
    signed 2021-09-16 09:36:59 +1000
  • Glenn Mallaby
    signed 2021-09-16 09:36:53 +1000
    Farmland for Food. Thankyou