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Brazil Approves Petrobras Drilling in Sensitive Amazon Waters
5 Feb
Summary
- Petrobras resumes drilling in environmentally sensitive Foz do Amazonas.
- ANP authorized drilling after a minor fluid leak incident.
- Activists and Indigenous groups oppose drilling due to ecosystem concerns.
The Brazilian oil regulator, ANP, has granted state-run firm Petrobras permission to resume drilling operations in the Foz do Amazonas region. This area is recognized for its environmental sensitivity, located off the coast of Amapa state in northern Brazil.
The ANP had previously paused these activities early last month. The interruption occurred after a small leak of synthetic fluid from auxiliary lines connected to Petrobras's drilling rig. This incident had drawn criticism from environmental activists and Indigenous groups.
These organizations have expressed long-standing concerns about the potential adverse effects of oil exploration on the region's delicate marine and coastal environments. Petrobras has invested significant effort over several years to secure authorization for drilling in Foz do Amazonas, a frontier area perceived as highly promising due to its shared geology with Guyana's productive oil fields.
