Coal news and updates

KEPCO Considering Setting Up Hydrogen Production Complex at Bylong Coal Mine in Australia

KEPCO announced on Oct. 1 that it was considering setting up a hydrogen production complex at the Bylong Valley in New South Wales, Australia, where it promoted a coal mine development project.

KEPCO began to promote the project in 2010 to mine bituminous coal for power generation. Until recently, it has invested about 826.9 billion won in the project.

KEPCO’s initial goal was to produce 6.5 million tons of bituminous coal for power generation over 25 years, but the Australian Independence Planning Commission (IPC), a licensing body, decided not to allow the project, saying it did not sit with the 2019 Carbon Neutrality Plan.

KEPCO filed a lawsuit with an Australian court to invalidate the commission's decision, but the case was dismissed in the second trial held on Sept. 14, following the first one. KEPCO can file another lawsuit as it can apply for the third and final trial, but it is unlikely that the ruling will be reversed. Moreover, the project goes against the global trend of greenhouse gas reduction to combat climate change, so KEPCO feels quite burdensome about going to the third trial.