Petrobras will ask Ibama to reconsider the decision that denied licensing in the AP

Petrobras informed, this Wednesday morning (24), that it will ask Ibama to reconsider the decision to deny the environmental licensing for the drilling of an exploratory oil well at the mouth of the Amazon River, last week. The state company will propose additional measures to expand the “fauna stabilization base” in the municipality of Oiapoque, in Amapá (see in full).

The decision to appeal Ibama’s refusal took place during a meeting at the Civil House with representatives of the Ministries of the Environment (MMA) and Mines and Energy (MME) and the autarchy itself on Tuesday (23), when the necessary actions to meet the to the questions raised.

According to the state-owned company, the Oiapoque base will work together with the Center for Rehabilitation and Depetrolization of Fauna (CRD) already existing in Belém in case of an accident with an oil spill.

“The expansion of wildlife service at the Oiapoque base joins the proposal previously presented, which already included more than 100 professionals dedicated to animal protection”, says the state-owned company in a note.

Petrobras also offered 12 vessels, two of which are on standby alongside the rig that will drill the well to act immediately in the event of a leak. Another two will work with veterinary professionals to care for fauna and will be equipped with air-conditioned containers and equipment for stabilizing animals during the five months foreseen for the operation.

In addition to the vessels, Petrobras says it has already committed other resources to deal with leaks from the drilling, such as five aircraft that can be used for monitoring and rescue, in addition to fauna reception units. “This emergency response structure is the largest dimensioned by the company in the country, even larger than those existing in the Campos and Santos Basins”, completed the state-owned company.

Ibama’s decision generated an internal crisis in the government

Ibama’s negative opinion on the licensing of oil exploration at the mouth of the Amazon River opened an internal crisis in the government between Marina Silva and Alexandre Silveira, respectively ministers of the Environment and Mines and Energy.

Silveira alleges that this may be the last oil reserve in the country to bring gains to the government – ​​especially to the states located on the so-called Equatorial Margin – while Marina attests that Ibama’s decision was based on a technical nature and that it must be respected.

Ibama’s decision also led to a split in the Rede Sustentabilidade party itself, which has Marina as one of its exponents and who participated in the allied base in Congress with Senator Randolfe Rodrigues, leader of the government in the Senate – he asked to disaffiliate after the denial of licensing.

The expectation is that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) will arbitrate the crisis between the ministers over licensing for drilling.