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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

  • Daltony Nóbrega
    signed 2021-09-16 22:12:05 +1000
  • Stewart Turnbull
    signed 2021-09-16 22:08:49 +1000
    I reckon they should just give the land to the farmers
  • Falkiner Jenny
    signed 2021-09-16 22:01:13 +1000
  • Heather Bray
    signed 2021-09-16 21:58:03 +1000
  • Jenny Koschutzke
    signed 2021-09-16 21:23:48 +1000
  • Glenys Watt
    signed 2021-09-16 21:22:24 +1000
  • Sascha Ettinger
    signed 2021-09-16 21:17:49 +1000
    Treat this wonderful fertile land with the respect it deserves
  • Penelope Milson
    signed 2021-09-16 21:13:42 +1000
  • Brett Drayton
    signed 2021-09-16 21:05:08 +1000
  • Tony Fathers
    signed 2021-09-16 21:04:00 +1000
  • Michael Radzievic
    signed 2021-09-16 20:50:55 +1000
    Bow out of Bylong Valley Kepco
  • Peter Grieve
    signed 2021-09-16 20:43:52 +1000
    The land should be sold in parcels to allow purchase by family farmers not Corporates , local or overseas . Let us rebuild Bylong .
  • Barbara Kerr
    signed 2021-09-16 20:19:20 +1000
  • Emily McClellan
    signed 2021-09-16 20:14:02 +1000
  • Julia Houghton
    signed 2021-09-16 20:05:59 +1000
  • Maureen Cone
    signed 2021-09-16 19:59:16 +1000
    Give Australia Back
  • David Balding
    signed 2021-09-16 19:52:56 +1000
  • Louise Chapman
    signed 2021-09-16 19:33:49 +1000
  • Katja Jezewski
    signed 2021-09-16 19:31:24 +1000
    Stop to harm our one + only panet earth ! Do much better to save it for us all, now!
  • Julie Ayo
    signed 2021-09-16 19:11:29 +1000
  • kate botting
    signed 2021-09-16 18:40:11 +1000
  • Olive Mcintosh
    signed 2021-09-16 18:35:25 +1000
  • Marilyn Graham
    signed 2021-09-16 18:34:47 +1000
  • Barry Hadaway
    signed 2021-09-16 18:19:09 +1000
  • Sandra Stuart
    signed 2021-09-16 18:13:44 +1000
  • Merinda Kyle
    signed 2021-09-16 18:01:21 +1000
  • Doug Taylor
    signed 2021-09-16 17:58:09 +1000
  • Lorraine Williams
    signed 2021-09-16 17:21:29 +1000
  • Julie McCarthy
    signed 2021-09-16 17:14:09 +1000
  • Cate Waldron
    signed 2021-09-16 17:12:42 +1000
    A focus on scientifically validated sustainable agriculture would also be wise