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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

  • David Hart
    signed 2021-09-14 19:57:58 +1000
  • Joy Johnson
    signed 2021-09-14 19:57:34 +1000
    Oh please, return this land to agriculture
  • Chris Jones
    signed 2021-09-14 19:56:59 +1000
  • Katherine Aisbett
    signed 2021-09-14 19:56:47 +1000
  • Greg and Karen Douglas
    signed 2021-09-14 19:56:11 +1000
  • Deborah Moran
    signed 2021-09-14 19:56:05 +1000
    Great outcome !
  • Linda Gatfield
    signed 2021-09-14 19:55:48 +1000
  • Denise Brand Brand
    signed 2021-09-14 19:55:06 +1000
  • Adrian Keefe
    signed 2021-09-14 19:52:57 +1000
    Oz first and that means our primary producers
  • Dr David Teather
    signed 2021-09-14 19:50:16 +1000
    Releasing the land back to agriculture will be the best solution for the community and this beautiful landscape.
  • Sally Kennedy
    signed 2021-09-14 19:50:06 +1000
  • Paula Martin
    signed 2021-09-14 19:50:05 +1000
  • Alison Leitch
    signed 2021-09-14 19:49:21 +1000
  • Dale Curtis
    signed 2021-09-14 19:48:39 +1000
  • Jennifer Gray
    signed 2021-09-14 19:47:36 +1000
  • Lynne Prior
    signed 2021-09-14 19:47:06 +1000
  • Patrick Harte
    signed 2021-09-14 19:44:57 +1000
  • Anna Harvey
    signed 2021-09-14 19:44:41 +1000
  • Jessica Lee
    signed 2021-09-14 19:43:54 +1000
  • Bob Quigg
    signed 2021-09-14 19:43:48 +1000
  • Angela Snarskis
    signed 2021-09-14 19:42:02 +1000
  • John Warner
    signed 2021-09-14 19:41:45 +1000
  • Ruth Kendall
    signed 2021-09-14 19:41:30 +1000
    What a gesture, returning productive to farmers!
  • Barbara Box
    signed 2021-09-14 19:41:20 +1000
  • Therese Cosgrove
    signed 2021-09-14 19:41:04 +1000
  • Cherri Browne
    signed 2021-09-14 19:40:59 +1000
  • Nathan Wales
    signed 2021-09-14 19:40:25 +1000
  • Katja Alm
    signed 2021-09-14 19:38:37 +1000
    This letter is from Sweden
  • Edith Mateljan
    signed 2021-09-14 19:38:28 +1000
    NO coal= chance to restrict climate change as will growing food and TREES and carbon capture in the soil.
  • Ian Cannon
    signed 2021-09-14 19:37:37 +1000