Australian court again rejects Kepco plans for thermal coal mine

Korea Electric Power

14/09/2021 09:11

MELBOURNE, Sept 14 (Reuters) - An Australian state court has
upheld a decision to deny approval for South Korean power
utility Kepco to develop a thermal coal mine in New South Wales
state due, in part, to its impact on climate change. 
    Korea Electric Power Corp (Kepco)  015760.KS  sought to
develop the Bylong Coal project, about 200 km (124 miles)
northwest of Sydney, to mine up to 6.5 million tonnes of thermal
coal annually for 25 years. 
    But it lost its bid on Tuesday and the appeal court in New
South Wales, Australia's most populous state, ordered it to pay
costs.
    "The appellant has been unsuccessful with respect to each
ground of appeal. The appeal must be dismissed and the appellant
must pay the costs," the court said.
    Its ruling upheld a 2019 decision by the state's Independent
Planning Commission, and a second challenge in the state's land
court.  
    Bylong Coal did not immediately respond to a request for
comment. 
    The IPC denial of planning approval had cited the impact
Bylong would have had on water, highly productive farming
country, and the climate.
    "The IPC made its decision based on that evidence, finding
that this coal mine is not in the public interest," the
Environmental Defenders Office, which opposed the project, said
in a statement.
    "Two subsequent appeals have thoroughly tested and supported
the IPC’s decision to refuse the mine."
    The United Nations has called for coal to be phased out by
2030 in nations belonging to the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development.
    Australia is among the grouping, but its conservative
government has steadfastly backed fossil fuel industries, saying
tougher action on emissions would cost jobs.
    Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said Australia is on a
path to net zero carbon emissions but has stopped short of
setting a timeline. He has said Australia will update its 2030
emissions projections going into the Glasgow talks in November.

 (Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
 ((melanie.burton@thomsonreuters.com Twitter: @MelanieMetals;
+613 9286 1421; Reuters Messaging:
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