Latest News

District attorneys push Brazil regulators on Petrobras license to drill near Amazon mouth

Brazilian prosecutors, who have advised that environmental firm Ibama block drilling by staterun oil business Petrobras near the mouth of the Amazon river, have required that Ibama react within 3 days, a document seen shows.

The federal prosecutors office (MPF), an independent agency, filed a July 22 notice that appeared on Ibama's system on Monday, cautioning that an unjustified hold-up in responding could have civil, administrative and chastening consequences.

The deadline of three working days will start from the minute Ibama confirms it was informed, the MPF said in a. declaration to Reuters, including that the existing notice was. sent out since there had actually been no action to previous letters.

MPF did not detail what steps it would take if Ibama. once again does not react.

Petrobras and Ibama did not immediately respond to demands. for comment.

In May 2023, Ibama denied Petrobras' ask for an overseas. drilling license for the Foz de Amazonas location off the coast of. Amapa state. The oil business appealed not long after.

The Equatorial Margin at the northern end of the area is. Brazil's a lot of promising oil frontier, sharing geology with. close by Guyana, where Exxon Mobil is developing big fields.

Ibama President Rodrigo Agostinho said last month he. expected a choice quickly.

Last August, prosecutors advised that Ibama reject the. appeal, pointing out possible harm to regional Native neighborhoods and. the environment.

The district attorneys' notification to Agostinho said it is the task of. those who receive their recommendations to respond, which not. doing so could be punishable with a prison sentence of one to. 3 years, in addition to a fine.

The Petrobras strategy has opened a rift in President Luiz. Inacio Lula da Silva's government in between ecologists and. advocates for local growth of the oil and gas industry.

Petrobras and Lula have actually been pressuring Ibama to provide the. license, with Lula stating in June that he will not get rid of. any opportunity to make this country grow..

(source: Reuters)