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Senator Lucas Barreto Criticizes The New Requirements Of Ibama And Points Out Risks Of Delays In Oil Exploration In The Equatorial Margin, Strategic Area For The Economic Development Of Amapá.
In a speech on the Plenary on September 30, 2025, Senator Lucas Barreto (PSD-AP) expressed strong dissatisfaction with the additional requirements from Ibama to Petrobras. The process involves licensing for drilling oil wells in the Equatorial Margin, considered one of the last major global frontiers for the exploration of the commodity.
The region extends from the coast of Amapá to Rio Grande do Norte and is seen as strategic to increase Brazilian production of oil and gas.
Criticisms Of The New Requirements Imposed By Ibama
According to Barreto, Petrobras had already met all previous requests made by the environmental agency. However, new demands have been complicating the issuance of the final license.
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The senator cited an unusual episode as an example: during a wildlife rescue drill, a boat ended up damaging a fishing net, a situation that, according to him, was used as a justification by Ibama to increase restrictions.
For the legislator, these requirements have turned into barriers that delay the start of drilling and jeopardize investor confidence in the oil sector.
Impacts On The Development Of Amapá
Barreto warned that delays in the licensing process could have direct repercussions on Amapá’s economy. He emphasized that the state needs job opportunities and that the exploration of oil off the coast could represent a significant leap in job creation and revenue generation.
In his words, the lack of economic alternatives causes despair among the population, which sees the energy sector as a concrete possibility for progress.
The senator also criticized the idea of turning Amapá into an environmental center aimed at COP30. For him, the region cannot be treated as a subject of European interest in discussions about the environment.
Barreto’s defense highlights the dilemma surrounding oil in the Equatorial Margin: on one side, the need to preserve sensitive ecosystems; on the other, the pressure to exploit one of the last territories with untapped potential in the world.
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