0
0
Brazil Approves Oil Exploration Licence in Amazon Offshore Region
Brazil has granted its state-owned oil company, Petrobras, a licence to begin exploratory drilling off the coast of the Amazon, despite growing environmental concerns. The approval allows Petrobras to drill in a block located in Amapá, around 500 km from the mouth of the Amazon River, part of the Equatorial Margin.
The company says it has robust environmental protection measures in place and drilling will begin immediately, lasting up to five months. The operation is intended only to assess the presence of oil or gas at a commercially viable level and will not yet involve production.
Environmental Concerns Raised
Conservation groups, including Greenpeace, have warned that any oil spill could reach the Amazon via sea currents, putting a region home to 10% of the world’s biodiversity at risk. Critics also fear this move could weaken Brazil’s climate credibility ahead of hosting the COP30 climate summit in Belém, an Amazonian city, in November.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has previously stated that no new oil projects should be approved if countries are serious about achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Divided Government Response
Environment Minister Marina Silva has publicly opposed drilling in the Amazon region, citing environmental risks. However, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has defended the move, pointing to Brazil’s economic needs and energy security.
In an interview with the BBC, Lula stated:
“Brazil is a country that has oil… We are following the law strictly.”
He acknowledged the environmental risks but said Brazil would take full responsibility if problems arise. Lula added:
“I am totally in favour of a world one day that will not need fossil fuels, but this moment has not come yet.”
International Interest in Amazon Oil
Several global oil companies, including ExxonMobil and Chevron, have already purchased exploration blocks in the region and are awaiting government licences. Petrobras emphasized its commitment to balancing energy security with a just energy transition, insisting that environmental protection remains a top priority during the exploration phase.
