The Brazilian government reported that the state-run oil company Petrobras has met one of the environmental requirements set by authorities to explore potential oil reserves near the mouth of the Amazon River.
The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), the agency responsible for issuing environmental permits, approved a wildlife protection and response plan submitted by Petrobras as part of the licensing process.
According to a statement from the agency, the plan meets the technical requirements, and the next step will be to carry out rescue simulations to test the company’s real-world capacity to respond to accidents.
However, Ibama clarified that approval of the document does not yet constitute authorization to explore the area. That will depend on on-site verification of the emergency plan's feasibility.
Oil exploration in an area located about 500 kilometers from the mouth of the Amazon is a cause for concern among environmental NGOs and some members of the government, due to the potential impact of a spill in a highly sensitive and ecologically important region.
In fact, Ibama rejected an initial request for authorization in 2023. Petrobras appealed the decision and submitted new documentation to demonstrate the safety of its proposed strategy.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has repeatedly defended the need to allow Petrobras to explore potential reserves, arguing that the resulting revenues could help fund the country’s energy transition.
