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The authorization of exploration of the Equatorial Margin has generated conflicts within the government. While Lula is pushing for approval, Marina Silva and Ibama are maintaining resistance.
The authorization of exploration of the Equatorial Margin has been a topic of intense debate between different sectors of the government and environmentalists. President Lula is trying to unblock the process, but is facing resistance from the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, and the technical team at Ibama, which maintains a cautious stance regarding the environmental impacts of oil extraction in the region.
Environmental challenges and Ibama requirements
Ibama, under the management of Rodrigo Agostinho, has adopted strict measures to assess the feasibility of drilling wells in the region. Recently, the agency authorized the decontamination of the Foresea probe in Coral-Sun, an invasive organism that can negatively impact marine biodiversity. Despite this progress, Ibama reinforced that this decision does not represent direct authorization for the start of exploration activities on the Equatorial Margin.
Sun Coral is an exotic species native to the Indo-Pacific, known for its high proliferation rate and the absence of natural predators in Brazil. It can compromise biodiversity and cause harm to fishing activities and tourism. Since the 1980s, this coral has been identified on oil platforms in the Campos Basin (RJ), but it was only in 1998 that the first impacts on natural substrates were recorded.
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After the decontamination requirement, Ibama also requested the installation of an Environmental Defense Center in Oiapoque (AP), a structure designed to reinforce environmental security in the region. According to Petrobras, the work is in the final phase and should be completed by the end of March. The state-owned company also stated that all technical requirements have been met and it is awaiting the completion of the Pre-Operational Assessment (APO) to continue with the project.
Exploration of the Equatorial Margin has generated internal dispute within the government
Behind the scenes, the issue of exploration of the Equatorial Margin has generated tension within the government. The Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, was tasked by President Lula with pressuring Ibama and Minister Marina Silva to speed up the process.
However, the director of Ibama, Rodrigo Agostinho, reinforced that the denial of Petrobras' request is not based on illegalities, but rather on a "conviction" of the technical team about the environmental risks.
Faced with the difficulties, President Lula appointed the Chief of Staff, Gleisi Hoffmann, to try to unblock the negotiations. The objective is to find a middle ground that will make exploration of the Equatorial Margin viable without compromising the environmental guidelines defended by Marina Silva.
Uncertain future for exploration of the Equatorial Margin
Political pressure to approve oil exploration in the region remains intense, but the position of Ibama and environmentalists continues to be an obstacle to Petrobras' plans. While the state-owned company claims that the requirements have been met, Ibama insists that new environmental studies are necessary before any definitive approval.
The expectation is that until COP30, the climate conference to be hosted by Brazil in 2025, the discussion will remain stalled. If environmental management does not give in, the government will need to reevaluate strategies to balance economic development and environmental sustainability.
Source: petronews
