The Single Federation of Oil Tankers (FUP) said on Monday (28) that Ibama’s delay in authorizing the last stage of environmental licensing for the equatorial margin is generating a cost of more than $ 4 million per day to Petrobras. According to the entity, the state-owned perforation probe has been standing for more than 20 days on the coast of Pará, waiting for the release of the emergency simulation provided for in the pre-operational evaluation (APO).
APO is the last stage of the licensing process and consists of an exercise that simulates oil leaks, required before the start of perforations. The meeting between Ibama and Petrobras is scheduled for August 12, but FUP claims that there is no technical justification for this period and asks the meeting be anticipated. The entity states that the wait represents excessive and unnecessary expenses for the country.
FUP General Coordinator, Deyvid Bacelar, attributes the delay in the posture of Ibama and says that the body would be enough to schedule the meeting for the process to advance. Despite criticism, he recognizes the importance of environmental licensing and the performance of the Institute’s technical staff.
Ibama reported that the scheduled date was maintained because there are several preparatory activities ongoing. The agency added that it is committed to the efficient progress of the process, respecting the technical criteria and the rigor required because it is an environmentally sensitive region, such as the Foz do Amazonas basin.
The equatorial margin, which extends from Rio Grande do Norte to Amapá, is considered one of the promising new boundaries for oil exploration in Brazil. Petrobras already meets environmental requirements and argues that production in this region is strategic to reduce imports of imports in the next decade. Still, environmentalists and experts question the impacts of exploration and warn of conflict with energy transition goals.
