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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

  • Daan Spijer
    signed 2021-09-18 15:55:00 +1000
    Many of Australia’s rural communities have suffered from proposed mining operations. Now that KEPCO is not proceeding with its mine, it would serve the community to have the land returned to agriculture and thus give the community a chance to recover.
  • Sophia Weigang
    signed 2021-09-18 15:35:24 +1000
    Good luck
  • John Hain
    signed 2021-09-18 14:57:13 +1000
  • John Boyle
    signed 2021-09-18 14:50:23 +1000
    The UN is calling for the phasing out of climate changing coal and All should be well aware that the era of coal has passed.
  • elizabeth taylor
    signed 2021-09-18 14:46:22 +1000
    SAVE OUR LAND for Agriculture & future generations PLEASE!!
  • Megan Hyatt
    signed 2021-09-18 14:23:43 +1000
    Please relinquish the exploration lease for the project and sell the land back to agricultural interests. I can see no valid basis for KEPCO to continue with the project. This has dragged on for years and it would be good to draw a line under this and move on, it would be a fantastic PR exercise if you need any incentive.
  • Kris Johnson
    signed 2021-09-18 14:00:48 +1000
  • Charmian Onslow-Thompson
    signed 2021-09-18 13:40:33 +1000
  • Peter Crocker
    signed 2021-09-18 12:41:53 +1000
  • David Crosweller
    signed 2021-09-18 12:19:22 +1000
  • Terry Stanton
    signed 2021-09-18 11:57:29 +1000
    We should not like to be parties to desecrating your countryside and endangering the planet whilst doing so. You should leave ours alone, and stop burning coal and other fossil fuels. Sell the land back at the prices it was worth as agriculturalland when you bought. If you sell it at a profit you will be making gains from immoral behaviour.
  • Andrew Taylor
    signed 2021-09-18 10:37:05 +1000
  • Michael Thomas
    signed 2021-09-18 10:22:34 +1000
  • Andrew Nicholson
    signed 2021-09-18 09:28:27 +1000
  • Nicky Page
    signed 2021-09-18 08:59:07 +1000
  • Lesley Hughes
    signed 2021-09-18 08:45:14 +1000
    Please permanently end the threat to farmers by selling back this land. Be Climate heroes.
  • Mary Webb
    signed 2021-09-18 08:18:23 +1000
  • Kim Hillard
    signed 2021-09-18 07:30:45 +1000
  • Phil Allen
    signed 2021-09-18 06:34:31 +1000
  • Hala Bereza
    signed 2021-09-18 06:02:46 +1000
  • Clara Khoury
    signed 2021-09-18 05:34:41 +1000
  • Leonie Loch
    signed 2021-09-18 02:10:05 +1000
  • Robert Doyle
    signed 2021-09-17 22:36:00 +1000
  • Winnie Fu
    signed 2021-09-17 22:34:49 +1000
  • Kelsey Smith
    signed 2021-09-17 21:38:32 +1000
  • John Wong
    signed 2021-09-17 21:10:00 +1000
  • Janet Maggs
    signed 2021-09-17 20:49:37 +1000
  • Peter Liversidge
    signed 2021-09-17 20:36:43 +1000
  • Philip Warsop
    signed 2021-09-17 18:54:56 +1000
  • Tom Whelan
    signed 2021-09-17 18:23:05 +1000