Imagine an oil reserve capable of increasing Brazil's already vast reserves by 37%, guaranteeing energy security in the near future. This is the scenario that Petrobras aims for, but first it needs to overcome a major obstacle: obtaining approval from Ibama to explore the promising Equatorial Margin.
According to information from the Poder360 website, Petrobras is one step away from obtaining Ibama's authorization to explore the Equatorial Margin, one of the last frontiers oil companies not explored in Brazil.
This region is strategic not only for the amount of oil it can contain, but also for the energy security it can provide the country in the coming decades.. However, obtaining an environmental license depends on a series of risk mitigation measures, which until now have been an obstacle.
According to sources consulted, the main obstacle to licensing has been the lack of an emergency response base close to the exploration area.
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Block FZA-M-59, located in the Foz do Amazonas basin, is more than 500 km from the nearest base, located in Belém (PA). This distance was considered unacceptable by Ibama, which highlighted the need for a quick response in the event of an oil spill.
Petrobras' proposal
In response to Ibama's demands, Petrobras presented a new plan that includes the construction of a maritime base in Oiapoque (AP), just 170 km from the FZA-M-59 block.
This strategic change aims to improve the company's response capacity in emergency situations, addressing one of the environmental agency's main concerns..
According to internal sources, the expectation is now that the licensing process will finally move forward, depending only on Petrobras moving forward with the implementation of these new plans.
Ibama, which had previously denied the license due to the fragility of the state-owned company's contingency plans, now considers that the process depends more on Petrobras' actions than on its own assessment..
The importance of the equatorial margin
A Equatorial Margin, which extends from the coast of Guyana to Rio Grande do Norte, covers five sedimentary basins: Foz do Amazonas, Pará-Maranhão, Barreirinhas, Ceará and Potiguar.
These basins, together, represent a vast and still unexplored oil reserve that could be crucial for the future of Brazilian energy production.. Studies indicate that the FZA-M-59 block alone has a potential of 5,6 billion barrels of oil.
According to Petrobras' analysis, these reserves could be fundamental to offset the expected drop in pre-salt production from the 2030s onwards. With the world still dependent on oil until at least 2050, this new frontier could ensure that Brazil maintains its relevance on the global stage..
Next steps and challenges
Even if Ibama approves the license, Petrobras will still have to undergo a rigorous pre-operational test, which will assess its ability to respond to a possible leak.
This test will be crucial to ensure that exploration is carried out safely, minimizing environmental risks.. Furthermore, the state-owned company will need to continue monitoring and adjusting its emergency plans, ensuring that they meet environmental expectations and requirements.
With such promising reserves and growing energy demand, do you believe that Petrobras will be able to overcome all environmental and political challenges to explore the Equatorial Margin? Leave your opinion in the comments!