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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

  • Paul Vale
    signed 2021-09-14 19:09:21 +1000
  • Norman Halliwell
    signed 2021-09-14 19:09:01 +1000
    Please do the right thing KEPCO and allow this land to be purchased by landholders for agricultural business, regards Norm Halliwell.
  • Roger Adams
    signed 2021-09-14 19:08:28 +1000
  • Lee Jeffery
    signed 2021-09-14 19:07:41 +1000
  • Sharon Yarwood
    signed 2021-09-14 19:07:32 +1000
  • Joy Kelly
    signed 2021-09-14 19:06:26 +1000
  • Kennethe Bull
    signed 2021-09-14 19:01:48 +1000
  • Robyn Brearley
    signed 2021-09-14 19:01:22 +1000
    Australia needs our pastoral land for our future. We must Not allow it to be destroyed for mining.
  • Marie-Louise Drew
    signed 2021-09-14 19:00:24 +1000
  • Malcolm Donaldson
    signed 2021-09-14 18:59:25 +1000
  • John Tonkin
    signed 2021-09-14 18:58:04 +1000
    I was born in Kurri Kurri and am so pleased to see the Bylong Valley saved for farming. At least part of the land I grew up in will be preserved.
  • Paul Bickerstaff
    signed 2021-09-14 18:56:57 +1000
  • Vicki Boyle
    signed 2021-09-14 18:56:32 +1000
    KEPCO – please relinquish your exploration lease and return the land to agricultural interests – a generous gesture on behalf of your people which will ultimately benefit food security for all in our region.
  • Elizabeth Morgan AM
    signed 2021-09-14 18:55:43 +1000
  • Megan Roberts
    signed 2021-09-14 18:55:10 +1000
  • Aileen Jacob
    signed 2021-09-14 18:54:40 +1000
    Hopefully the purchasers would be "family " farmers, not big corporation type farmers
  • Terry Burrows Burrows
    signed 2021-09-14 18:54:36 +1000
    What a wonderful and commonsense decision that this final appeal by Kepco was also refused. The exploration lease should now be relinquished and the land returned to agriculture and nature convservation. ‘No new coal mines’ should at this time become a mantra for moving forward.
  • Brian Croker
    signed 2021-09-14 18:54:00 +1000
    Congratulations & roll out the equipment Bylong
  • Judith Hurle
    signed 2021-09-14 18:53:54 +1000
    Please do this!
  • Kirsten Garrett
    signed 2021-09-14 18:53:47 +1000
    Korea, like all countries of the world, must reduce its use of fossil fuels to save the whole world, the people, the animals, nature. Now that Kepco is not able to use the Bylong Valley for mining, please sell it back to farmers so it can be carefully used to help feed the world. and Keep nature alive.
  • Caroline Sévilla
    signed 2021-09-14 18:53:26 +1000
  • Shane Adams
    signed 2021-09-14 18:53:10 +1000
    Agricultural land is our future
  • Paul Garde
    signed 2021-09-14 18:53:09 +1000
  • Susan Petch
    signed 2021-09-14 18:52:30 +1000
  • Patricia McCalden
    signed 2021-09-14 18:52:27 +1000
  • jim turner
    signed 2021-09-14 18:52:27 +1000
  • Evan Leitch
    signed 2021-09-14 18:52:08 +1000
  • Elizabeth Van staveren
    signed 2021-09-14 18:51:41 +1000
  • Vania Chan
    signed 2021-09-14 18:51:04 +1000
  • Kimberley Weaver
    signed 2021-09-14 18:51:04 +1000