State-owned Ibama has indicated it will review its contingency plan while building a support base closer to the bloc, which could facilitate licensing.
the Petrobras He pointed out Ibama (Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) which wants to build an emergency response base near the area known as the equatorial margin. This was, according to Power360the biggest obstacle to the agency's license to excavate the site.
Documents submitted by the state-owned company indicate that the company could build a naval base in Oiapuque (AP), 170 kilometers from the FZA-M-59 block, located in the so-called Foz do Amazonas basin. In the previous version, the only structure of this type for boats was planned in Belém (PA), more than 500 kilometers from the wells.
Now, the assessment within Ibama is that the process relies much more on the state-owned company than on the environmental entity.
In practice, there is an expectation that the licensing process will finally be launched and the institute will give the green light for drilling. However, it depends on the company to continue to submit these new plans.
The emergency plans and PPAF (Protection Animal Plan) were the main points that Ibama considered problematic in the process and contributed to negative Approval for exploration in May 2023. The Environment Agency considered contingency planning to be fragile given the risks.
Ibama's understanding was that in the event of an oil spill, Petrobras would take a long time to mitigate the damage as it only had a naval support base in Belém, for example, it would be necessary to isolate the area with buoys and rescue animals, which would have to be done by boat.
In the previous plan, the state-owned company planned to establish a base in Oyabuki, but only for helicopters.
What is the equatorial margin?
The Equatorial Margin is one of the last unexplored oil frontiers in Brazil. It includes the entire coastline in the north of the country. It got its name because it is close to the equator. It starts in Guyana and extends to Rio Grande do Norte.
The Brazilian part is divided into 5 sedimentary basins, which in total include 42 blocks. They are:
- Amazonas winIt is located in the states of Amapá and Pará;
- Para MaranhaoIt is located in Pará and Maranhão;
- BarreirinhasLocated in Maranhao.
- CiaraIt is located in Piauí and Ceará; and
- PotegoireLocated in Rio Grande do Norte.
the Petrobras He tries to dig a well to search the Foz do Amazonas basin, which, despite its name, It's not at the mouth of the Amazon River.The area where the oil well will be drilled is located 500 kilometers from the estuary and more than 170 kilometers from the coast of Amapá.
possible
Petrobras' internal studies indicate that the area where the state-owned company is seeking an environmental license to explore in the equatorial margin may Potential to get 5.6 billion From oil barrels.
This is a potential 37% increase in Brazil's oil reserves, which currently stand at 14.8 billion barrels. Meanwhile, Guyana has already discovered in the area. equivalent to 75% of the reserve From Brazil.
The tropical margin reserves are the main focus of Petrobras To maintain the level of oil extraction from the 2030s onwards, when pre-salt production is expected to start declining. Thus, the new frontier will provide energy security for the country while transitioning to a green economy. Global studies indicate that the world will continue to depend on oil until 2050.
The environmental permit, which Ibama rejected, includes a pre-operational test to analyze Petrobras’ ability to respond to a potential spill. The application is for the drilling of a well that would allow Petrobras to analyze the potential for oil reserves in the area.
Read more about the equatorial margin.
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.