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The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) Filed an Appeal Against the Decision That Maintained Oil Exploration in the Mouth of the Amazon. The Agency Claims Absence of Climatic Studies and Consultation with Indigenous Peoples, While Petrobras is Already Preparing to Begin Exploratory Drilling.
The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) decided to appeal to the Regional Federal Court of the 1st Region (TRF-1) against the decision that maintained the result of the auction for the exploratory blocks of oil in the Amazon River Mouth Basin. The appeal also contests the research license granted to Petrobras, authorizing the start of exploratory activities in the region.
It is worth remembering that last Monday (20), the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) issued the license for the state-owned company to start research operations in the so-called Equatorial Margin, one of the country’s new energy frontiers.
MPF Demands Climatic Studies and Consultation with Indigenous Peoples
According to the MPF, the authorization for oil exploration in the region should be conditioned on the prior completion of a Climate Impact Study (CIS) and an Environmental Assessment of the Sedimentary Area (EASA). Furthermore, the agency emphasizes that prior consultation with indigenous and traditional communities that might be affected is mandatory.
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“The MPF argues that the absence of studies and consultation in the pre-licensing phase is a serious violation of the legal framework and the international commitments undertaken by Brazil,” the agency highlighted in an official statement.
This absence of environmental and social analyses, according to the Public Ministry, compromises the licensing process and violates legal principles of environmental precaution and transparency.
Petrobras Begins Preparations for Exploratory Drilling in the Amazon River Mouth
While the appeal is underway, Petrobras is already preparing to begin exploratory drilling in block FZA-M-059, located in deep waters off the coast of Amapá — about 175 kilometers from the coast and 500 kilometers from the mouth of the Amazon River.
The state-owned company reported that the operation is set to begin “immediately” and will last approximately five months. During this period, the goal is to obtain detailed geological data to assess the potential of the region in terms of oil and natural gas.
In a statement, Petrobras made it clear that “there is no oil production in this phase,” as it is merely an exploratory research stage.
The Amazon River Mouth is one of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the Brazilian coast. The marine biome of the region is home to endangered species and under-researched coral formations, which has raised concerns among environmentalists and scientists.
Therefore, the debate about oil exploration in the Equatorial Margin has become one of the most controversial topics in the Brazilian energy sector, involving divergences between economic development and environmental preservation.
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