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With an Economy Driven by Oil, Natural Gas, and Bioeconomy, Coari — in the Heart of the Amazon — Becomes a Symbol of the New Brazilian Sustainable Development, Attracting Investments and Creating Opportunities Without Deforestation.
A few kilometers from the dense jungle and winding rivers of the Amazon, a city has been challenging the old paradigms of development. Coari, located in the heart of the largest tropical rainforest on the planet, is emerging as a hub of clean energy, economic growth, and sustainability — all at once. With a population of just over 85,000 inhabitants, Coari is no longer just another point on the Amazonian map; it is becoming a national reference for how to grow responsibly, generate wealth without devastation, and integrate Brazil into the 21st century in an innovative way.
The Hidden Power Beneath the Forest: The Urucu Province
The economic transformation of Coari begins with one of the country’s greatest energy treasures: the Urucu Oil Province, the largest onshore oil and natural gas reserve in Brazil.
Discovered in the 1980s and operated by Petrobras, the province has become the foundation of a silent energy revolution. It produces 40,000 barrels of oil per day and more than 11 million cubic meters of natural gas, which supply the capital Manaus and several other regions via the Urucu–Coari–Manaus pipeline, inaugurated in 2009.
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A parachutist crashed into the giant screen of the stadium and hung from the structure in front of thousands of people while carrying the flag of the United States during an exhibition flight.
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Social experiment leaves a bottle on the ground and reveals who ignores the trash and who picks it up right away, showing why clean cities live in more peace.
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A couple fled from the most expensive coastline in Brazil in Santa Catarina and is now paying R$ 400 for rent with a house, land, and nearby beach, while those who stayed in Itapema continue to pay a fortune to live in cramped conditions.
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The collective movement that started with a banker and led a poor city in the U.S. to become a global reference in wealth after investing in Coca-Cola stocks during the Great Depression.
The project was a watershed moment: it ensured a cleaner and cheaper energy supply for the North, attracted new industries, and placed Coari on the national radar as the energy capital of the forest.
Energy That Generates Jobs and Opportunities
The gas from Urucu is not only for export. State-of-the-art thermoelectric plants, such as Mauá 3, with a capacity of 591 megawatts, have been constructed around the pipeline, strengthening the energy park and generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
These plants supply entire cities and provide a solid foundation for the growth of industrial sectors such as food, logistics, and services, all with a lower environmental impact compared to conventional matrices.
The presence of these plants has also been crucial in attracting investors concerned about energy security and supply predictability, two factors that are very important when betting on regions outside the South-Southeast axis.
GDP on the Rise and Increasing Income
The economic reflection is clear: in 2021, Coari’s GDP reached R$ 3.38 billion, an impressive growth of 43% in just one year. Most of this wealth (about 60%) comes from the industrial and extractive sectors, driven mainly by energy.
But it’s not just the absolute number that is impressive. GDP per capita jumped from R$ 22,387 in 2020 to R$ 38,982 in 2021, one of the highest in the state of Amazonas. This shows that wealth is not concentrated only in large companies but is also beginning to circulate among residents, with more consumption, entrepreneurship, and quality of life.
Bioeconomy: The Next Chapter of the Green Revolution
Coari has not stopped at fossil energy. On the contrary. The municipality is now seeking to diversify its economy and become a reference in bioeconomy and clean energies. The city has been hosting events, forums, and international meetings with the support of organizations like the Sustainable Amazon Foundation, attracting scientists, environmentalists, and investors interested in sustainable solutions.
The goal is clear: to transform the wealth generated by oil into investments for a green future. This includes research with forest inputs, intelligent extractivism, reforestation for economic purposes, and even startups focused on Amazonian biotechnology.
Coari is practically building a new model of development for the Amazon — a model that respects the environment without giving up progress.
Entrepreneurship at the Heart of the Strategy
Another pillar of this growth is the investment in supporting local micro and small businesses. In 2025, Coari was one of the cities chosen by Sebrae to be part of the “Entrepreneurial City” program, which provides training, credit, and digital tools to merchants, rural producers, artisans, and entrepreneurs from various sectors.
The goal is clear: to strengthen the local economy from the inside out, providing real conditions for the population to benefit from the wealth generated in the municipality and reduce dependence on large conglomerates.
This also helps to retain youth in the countryside, promote innovation, and create solutions designed by and for the residents of Coari — a virtuous cycle of empowerment and sustainable development.
Why Did Coari Become an Example?
Coari is a living proof that it is possible to grow in the Amazon without repeating the mistakes of the past. While so many cities get lost amid promises and setbacks, Coari advances with solid foundations:
- Modern Energy Infrastructure with a pipeline and thermoelectric plants
- Attraction of Sustainable Investments and focus on clean energy
- High Job and Income Generation
- Technical Education and Entrepreneurship Programs
- Commitment to the Forest and the Future
That’s why the city is seen by experts today as a national example of sustainable development — with the potential to inspire the entire North region.
Coari could have followed the common script: exploit, extract, enrich a few, and impoverish the rest. But it chose another path. A path that balances growth with awareness, infrastructure with inclusion, and energy with preservation.
In the heart of the Amazon, far from the Southeast’s spotlight, Coari is building the future with its own hands — and showing Brazil that it is possible to thrive without destruction.
If the forest is the lungs of the world, cities like Coari are the brain of a new Amazon: intelligent, productive, and sustainable.
Isso é de qual realidade paralela?
Me traz a memória a **** intencional promovida por petistas onde Roraima não é conectada a infra-estrutura enérgicas nacional e poderia ter uma hidrelétrica potente que não precisa de grandes inundações. Fora o fato da demarcação de terras indígenas pra quase nenhum índio ocupar, que acabou com a produção de arroz de Roraima q produzia na entresafra e emprega muitos indígenas que hj dependem das migalhas da FUNAI.
Desde quando petróleo e gás natural são energias limpas e sustentáveis? Em que mundo vocês vivem?