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Marina Silva Spoke in Defense of the Criteria Followed by Ibama, Without Favoring Requests from Large Groups Such as Petrobras.
On last Thursday (6), the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva (Rede), stated in an official declaration that the Ministry of the Environment (MMA) has no influence over the granting of licenses for oil and natural gas exploration activities. Amid the analysis of Petrobras’ licensing request in the Amazon River Basin, Silva emphasized that the decision by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) must follow technical and legal criteria, without political interference.
Marina Silva’s statement was made in the context of anticipation regarding Ibama’s opinion on Petrobras’ licensing request for drilling an exploratory well in the Equatorial Margin region.
The minister reaffirmed that the environmental agency’s analysis is of an exclusively technical nature, with attention to all the socio-environmental impacts involved. She also highlighted that the case has a high environmental complexity, requiring a detailed and meticulous evaluation.
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Marina Silva Talks About the Role of Ibama and Independence in Environmental Licensing
Marina Silva emphasized that it is the responsibility of Ibama, according to Brazilian laws, to assess whether exploration projects comply with environmental requirements and the criteria established by legislation.
The minister reiterated that both MMA and Ibama have well-defined functions. Neither agency has the authority to decide on the exploration of fossil fuels in Brazil. This decision, according to her, rests with the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE), of which MMA is a part, along with 16 other ministries.
“Thus, Ibama or MMA do not have the authority to decide whether Brazil will explore fossil fuels in the Amazon River Basin or any other Brazilian sedimentary basin”, she stated.
Marina Silva also stressed that, by following legal guidelines, agencies do not hinder or facilitate the licensing process. On the contrary, they ensure that what is present in the law is rigorously enforced.
The Licensing History of Petrobras in the Amazon River Basin
The issue of environmental licensing for exploration in the Amazon River Basin is not new. In 2018, during Michel Temer’s government, Ibama denied the first attempt by a private company to operate in the region.
However, Petrobras, which had faced this obstacle in the past, resubmitted its project to the environmental agency in 2023. In May of that year, Ibama again denied the licensing request. Petrobras chose to resubmit the proposal, meeting a series of requirements set by the agency.
One of those requirements was the construction of the Stabilization and De-oiling Unit in Oiapoque (UED-OIA), initiated by Petrobras in December 2023. The construction of this unit is part of the measures requested by Ibama to ensure the mitigation of environmental impacts in the region.
The Expectation Regarding the Licensing
The government, through the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira (PSD), recently stated that Petrobras has already met all the requirements made by Ibama. According to Silveira, the company is following the environmental agency’s guidelines, which may expedite the analysis of the licensing request.
However, Marina Silva emphasized that, although companies comply with the requirements, the final decision regarding the license issuance remains the exclusive responsibility of Ibama. The agency must act within the limits of the legislation.
The issue of oil and gas exploration in the Amazon River Basin has generated significant debate, primarily because it is an environmentally sensitive area, with great biodiversity and ecological importance.
The decision on Petrobras’ licensing may represent a milestone for the future of exploration activities in the region, but for Marina Silva, the process must be conducted based on technical criteria and not on political pressures.
With information from Eixos.
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