MELBOURNE, 3 November 2016 — If the Andrews Government is serious about its climate commitments, it must block the sale of ENGIE’s Loy Yang power station and instead push the company to commit to a full coal closure plan.

“Reports today that ENGIE is looking to sell off its Loy Yang power station by late 2017 would lock in decades of pollution that our climate can’t afford,” 350.org Campaigns Director Charlie Wood said. “A new buyer will try to extract as much value from Loy Yang as possible, which means burning decades worth of coal and driving dangerous climate change.”

“If the French Government and ENGIE are serious about divesting their polluting coal assets they must close these power stations rather than selling them off and allowing another company to continue fuelling dangerous climate change.

“This announcement highlights the urgent need for our federal government to develop a national coal closure plan that ensures Australia’s dirtiest coal fired power stations are closed and that communities and workers are supported through the transition.”

Media contact: Cambell Klose 0490 436 948