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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

  • Anita Moss
    signed 2021-09-15 02:40:10 +1000
  • Garth Drake
    signed 2021-09-15 02:20:49 +1000
  • Nigel Tanner
    signed 2021-09-15 01:57:08 +1000
  • Bruce McQueen
    signed 2021-09-15 01:12:31 +1000
  • Rob Dexter
    signed 2021-09-15 01:06:23 +1000
  • Dianne Didomenico
    signed 2021-09-15 00:41:16 +1000
  • Mishael Jay
    signed 2021-09-15 00:38:33 +1000
  • John Edye
    signed 2021-09-15 00:24:40 +1000
    This is an incredibly important outcome for Bylong, the Stop New Coal movement, the Worlds Climate, for agriculture and for farmers.
  • M Dowson
    signed 2021-09-15 00:20:26 +1000
    This is a wonderful decision, to prevent coal mining and a great chance to return the magnificent Bylong Valley BACK to its very valuable agricultural heritage.

    I respectfully urge KEPCO to ‘do the right thing’ and release the land back to farming.
  • David Moll
    signed 2021-09-15 00:02:31 +1000
  • Noel Evans
    signed 2021-09-14 23:56:14 +1000
  • Ruth Hardy
    signed 2021-09-14 23:55:34 +1000
  • Michael Robertson-Cook
    signed 2021-09-14 23:48:32 +1000
  • Gabi Smalley
    signed 2021-09-14 23:46:20 +1000
  • Florence Benattar
    signed 2021-09-14 23:44:37 +1000
  • Richard Vaughan
    signed 2021-09-14 23:43:36 +1000
  • Sally Wylie
    signed 2021-09-14 23:42:47 +1000
    Please sell back the land to locals
  • Judith Bancroft
    signed 2021-09-14 23:37:43 +1000
  • Tricia Harrison
    signed 2021-09-14 23:29:36 +1000
  • Kim Newell
    signed 2021-09-14 23:25:06 +1000
  • Gilbert Grace
    signed 2021-09-14 23:24:57 +1000
    I was lucky enough to work with Stuart Andrews on an agricultural art project in Kandos in 2016 after he had moved out of Tarwyn Park. I also had been watching Peter Andrews episodes on Australian Story. It was a heartbreaking tale of corporate might and global environmental desecration verses farming families and sustainable agriculture. Such a relief to see that this has resolved for the planet but now something must be done to ensure the food bowl of Bylong is repopulated and can get back to work.
  • Angela Longworth
    signed 2021-09-14 23:22:02 +1000
    Great to have come this far!
  • Kath Leahy
    signed 2021-09-14 23:19:43 +1000
  • Rebekah Kennedy
    signed 2021-09-14 23:18:53 +1000
  • Margaret Hilder
    signed 2021-09-14 23:15:29 +1000
  • Rosalie Schultz
    signed 2021-09-14 23:12:47 +1000
  • Jennifer Martin
    signed 2021-09-14 23:11:16 +1000
    KEPCO’s global reputation can be enhanced by relinquishing the exploration lease and taking positive action to ensure that this high value agricultural land in the Bylong valley is returned to regenerative agriculture with resultant carbon farming as well as conservation of natural species and habitats.
  • Karl Schaerf
    signed 2021-09-14 23:09:16 +1000
    As a fifth generation Australian, a direct descendant of at least five convict ancestors who, upon emancipation, became farm workers and several, eventually became small farmers, I urge you to do as Lock the Gate Alliance urge be done – sell the land to those who will farm and nurture it in a sustainable manner. Doing this will not only reflect well upon your company, but also endear you to future generations of Australians and Koreans and the young of both our countries will consider you to be most honorable and astute business people, who care about the future of the planet.
  • Bridget Carty
    signed 2021-09-14 23:08:04 +1000
  • Gay Spies
    signed 2021-09-14 23:03:38 +1000