Petrobras challenges MPF after request to suspend drilling in Foz do Amazonas

This Tuesday (6th), Petrobras contested the allegations made by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) in relation to the request to suspend the scheduled offshore drilling for the basin of the mouth of the Amazon River, made on Monday (5th).

The oil company said in a statement that it had heard indigenous and quilombola communities in the region affected by the exploratory activity and that it complies with all the conditions established in the environmental licensing of block FZA-M-59.

The MPF claims that there will be impacts for four indigenous communities in Amapá and quilombola and riverine communities in Pará, and that there was no prior consultation, a right of these peoples.

Prosecutors also claim that so far there has not been a “competent study” of modeling showing the dispersion of oil from the coast in the event of accidents, which implies “enormous potential for environmental damage on the coast of the Atlantic Amazon”.

Petrobras said that 47 meetings were held in 22 municipalities in the two states, with the participation of entities representing society, indigenous people and quilombolas, in addition to government bodies such as Ibama, Funai and ICMBio.

The company also stated that it carries out all activities in a safe manner, “fulfilling all socio-environmental requirements”, and that it will provide all clarifications to the MPF within the requested period.

The licensing process for the FZA-M-59 block was transferred to Petrobras in January 2021, following the transfer of the block concession to the company.

The MPF’s focus region, called Amapá Águas Profundas by Petrobras, has a sensitive ecosystem, housing one of the largest nurseries of marine life, according to environmentalists.

The area, however, is close to the border with Guyana, where oil companies such as Exxon have made important oil discoveries in recent years.