Brazil approved a controversial oil exploration project off the mouth of the Amazon River on Monday.
The decision seems particularly controversial given that it is less than three weeks away from hosting the year’s most important climate summit: the COP30.
Thus, it is a critical moment: while the country prepares to lead global discussions on the climate crisis in November, Petrobras will begin drilling in an area considered environmentally vulnerable.
This also contrasts with the global image that President “Lula” Da Silva seeks to present to the world.
Although he urges richer nations to assist with the care of the Amazon, and insisted on holding the COP30 in Belem, “The Gateway to the Amazon”. Now he endorses this oil project.
The news comes after the Brazilian Institute of Environment (Ibama) granted Petrobras the environmental license it needs to explore the so-called “block 59” of the Amazon.
This is located 170 kilometers offshore from the state of Amapá, on the equator line.
The first phase of exploration will last about five months to confirm if the studies on the deposits are correct.
“The rig is in place and the drill, pointing to the well,” declared Petrobras President Magda Chambriard. She confirmed that drilling will begin immediately.
The oil-seeking project that divides the government in Brazil
The authorization exposes the internal tensions of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government.
While the president has defended this new oil frontier arguing that the revenues will combat poverty and finance the energy transition, his Environment Minister, Marina Silva, opposes expanding oil activities to new territories.
The licensing process extended almost five years.
Initially, Ibama rejected Petrobras’ request in 2023 due to “technical inconsistencies“, but the oil company appealed and provided more information.
Thus, the institute claims to have defended the “rigor” of the process.
Additionally, Ibama also noted that Petrobras “substantially” improved the project, especially in emergency response plans such as potential spills.
Oil in Brazil: economic potential vs. environmental risk
The area has a potential of 10 billion barrels recoverable. Additionally, it can attract investments of 300 billion reais (55 billion dollars), according to the government.
Brazil is currently the seventh or eighth world’s largest crude producer with 3.3 million barrels per day.
With this project, the government’s plan is to make the nation the fifth largest producer in the world by 2030.
Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira celebrated the authorization for securing “the future of Brazil’s energy sovereignty“.
However, the area is located in one of the largest mangrove coasts in the world and near natural reserves, indigenous territories, and coral reefs.
Criticism from environmentalists to Lula and climate contradictions
For the Climate Observatory, an alliance of 130 organizations, the concession “sabotages the COP and contradicts the role of climate leader claimed by President Lula”.
The organization announced it will go to court to stop the project. They label it as “disastrous from an environmental, climate, and biodiversity standpoint”.
Paulo Artaxo, scientist of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), warned that opening new oil areas “will further exacerbate” global warming.
“Brazil has the opportunity to explore its enormous potential in solar and wind energy generation, we should not waste it,” he stated.
Meanwhile, WWF Brazil warned that the region hosts 80% of the country’s mangroves.
Additionally, the strong currents at the mouth of the Amazon can make containing a spill “extremely” difficult.
The paradox of COP30 in the Amazon
The decision coincides with preparations for the COP30, which will be held from November 6 to 10 in Belém. It will be the first UN climate summit in the Amazon.
Lula has presented it as “the COP of truth” and highlighted that deforestation in the tropical forest fell by 30% in 2024.
Even diplomat André Corrêa do Lago, designated president of the conference, noted in his letters to the international community the importance of “moving away” from fossil fuels.
This contradicts Petrobras’ project and Lula’s stance on it.
Additionally, environmentalists argue that the decision contradicts the government’s commitment to reduce emissions of polluting gases by 59% to 67% by 2035.
