Ibama’s technical staff have recommended denying Petrobras drilling rights in the Foz do Amazonas region due to environmental concerns, specifically regarding response measures for oil spills. The final decision is pending with President Rodrigo Agostinho amidst political pressures from President Lula da Silva, who has expressed frustration over licensing delays.
The technical staff at Brazil’s environmental agency, Ibama, have advised against granting authorization for Petrobras to conduct drilling activities in the environmentally sensitive Foz do Amazonas region, according to two sources familiar with the proceedings. The final determination regarding this recommendation rests with Ibama’s President, Rodrigo Agostinho. This comes amid pressure from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has criticized Ibama for its delay in issuing the drilling license.
Ibama denied the license primarily due to the lack of significant modifications to the plan that would support local wildlife in the event of an oil spill, as per one source’s account. Previously, in May 2023, Ibama rejected Petrobras’ offshore drilling application in the Foz do Amazonas region, citing profound environmental concerns. Petrobras subsequently filed an appeal, but a conclusive decision from Ibama has yet to be rendered.
The location that Petrobras is seeking to drill is situated within Brazil’s Equatorial Margin and represents a potentially lucrative oil frontier, sharing geological characteristics with Guyana, where significant drilling operations are being executed by Exxon Mobil. The developments around this drilling project reflect the broader tension between environmental regulation and industrial interests in Brazil.
In summary, Ibama’s technical staff has recommended against granting drilling permissions to Petrobras in the Foz do Amazonas region due to environmental concerns, particularly regarding oil spill management. The final decision by President Rodrigo Agostinho is anticipated amid political pressures. The borough’s ecological significance and its prospective oil reserves encapsulate the ongoing conflict between environmental protection and industrial advancement in Brazil.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
