Crude Oil Leak Affects 99 Locations Along the Northeast Coast

Crude Oil Has Already Reached 46 Cities in 8 States of the Northeast. Petrobras Analysis Says the Substance Is Not Produced in Brazil, but the Origin Has Not Yet Been Clarified.

Oil spills have already affected the coast of eight states in the Northeast, with the spills beginning to appear at the beginning of this month on beaches in Pernambuco. In a few days, the substance spread, and according to Ibama (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), 46 municipalities, with 99 locations, have been affected. In Rio das Ostras, theft in a Transpetro pipeline causes an oil spill.

Ibama is establishing a series of actions, together with the Fire Department of the Federal District (DF), the Navy, and Petrobras, aimed at investigating the causes and responsibilities for the discharge. So far, it is unknown who is responsible for the illegal discharge of the material into the sea.

The Navy and Petrobras confirmed, after analysis, that the substance that polluted various beaches in Northeast states in recent weeks is crude oil, produced abroad, but of still unidentified origin, the federal environmental agency Ibama reported in a statement posted on its website.

According to Ibama, Petrobras will also provide a contingent of about 100 people in the coming days.

The affected states in the Northeast, according to the agency, are Maranhão, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, and Sergipe.

Of the nine states in the Northeast, only Bahia has not yet reported the presence of the spills on its coast. Crude oil was first detected in sections of the beaches of Boa Viagem, in the southern area of Recife (PE), Piedade, in Jaboatão dos Guararapes (PE), and Del Chifre, in Olinda (PE).

The oil appeared on the beaches just a few days after a spill of five cubic meters of oil and water at the industrial waste treatment station of Refinaria Abreu e Lima, in Ipojuca (PE), in the metropolitan region of Recife.

The spill occurred on August 26. However, Semas (Secretariat of Environment and Sustainability) and Petrobras deny that the material discharged into the sea is related to the oil spill from the refinery.

So far, there is no evidence of contamination of fish and shellfish. The assessment of the quality of fish caught in the affected areas for human consumption is the responsibility of the health surveillance agency.

Swimmers and fishermen should not come into contact with the material. If any product is identified in the sea or on the beaches, citizens should report the location to the city hall.

Petrobras Takes Legal Action Seeking Compensation for Unionists