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Petrobras (PETR4)
Two events were held in recent days to defend oil and gas exploration on the Brazilian equatorial margin. Considered a possible “new pre-salt”, the region covers an area that goes from the maritime coast of Rio Grande do Norte to that of Amapá, extending from the mouth of the Oiapoque river to the north coast of Rio Grande do Norte, covering the basins hydrographs of the mouth of the Amazon River.
The exploration of Equatorial marginwhich includes maritime areas located approximately 550 kilometers from the mouth of the Amazon River, is strongly opposed by environmental, media and international groups who question the expansion of hydrocarbon exploration, identified as the main causes of global warming.
Aware of the opposition they face to exploitation Petrobras on the equatorial marginthe oil company has promoted meetings on the topic in recent years: one in São Luís, in Maranhão, with the governors of the North and Northeast, and another this Thursday (21st), in Brasilia, with representatives of the Legislative, the Executive , the press and civil society.
In Brasilia, the executive director of Petrobras explorationJonilton Pessoa, argued that it is necessary to show society that it is not possible to abandon it yet oil production, and that the objective should be to diversify renewable energy sources. He underlined that oil will finance the energy transition towards less polluting sources.
“We must communicate that it is necessary, to survive in the future, to have a diversity of energy sources, without ending up with a certain source. This is a fact. It is not possible to find ourselves today with oil with the dependence that we all still have on it sectors,” he said.
Furthermore, he said, if Brazil does not discover new fields, it will have to increase oil imports starting in 2028. pre-salt it’s powerful. It’s a great discovery, but it’s over. If we don’t make this discovery now, in seven or 10 years we may have to import hydrocarbons,” she said.
The Petrobras meeting in Brasilia was attended by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), which defended the possible gains for the sector, which the exploration of the equatorial margin can bring.
For the superintendent of the National Industry Observatory of the CNI, Márcio Guerra, the debate for and against the exploration of the equatorial margin is a communication battle. “This is a challenge that, generally, those who face it have difficulty communicating. And this is the challenge not only for Petrobras, it is the challenge for the entire industry.”
Petrobras: energy without oil
Among the entities that criticize the expansion of oil on the equatorial margin is WWF Brasil, a non-governmental organization focused on preserving the environment. The group’s conservation specialist, Ricardo Fujii, contradicts the company’s arguments and argues that Brazil is well served by oil reserves.
“Global oil demand can be satisfied by existing fields and approved projects, according to the scenario of the International Energy Agency to respect the Paris Agreement”, underlined commenting on the Petrobras issue at the new pre-salt at the mouth of the Amazon River.
Ricardo Fujii added that the resources are there to do so energy transition without the need for additional oil and gas wells. “As investors, companies and governments allocate financial resources to the exploration and development of oil reserves, the ability to invest in renewable energy projects diminishes,” he told Agência Brasil.
Environmental problem
Another criticism from environmentalists concerns the risks of an oil spill on the Brazilian coasts of the North and Northeast. In May 2023, Petrobras’ request to carry out research near the coast of Amapá was rejected by the Brazilian Institute for Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), which requested more data on the possible environmental impacts of a disaster in that region.
The oil company then approached the environmental agency with further information.
In August 2023, the Attorney General’s Office (AGU) declared that one of the main requested studies – the Environmental Assessment of the Sedimentary Area (AAAS) – does not need to be carried out, as the area has already been auctioned.
For now, the company is exploring a Petrobras good in Rio Grande do Norte and is awaiting further authorizations to carry out studies in other blocks.
Petrobras licensing and environment manager Daniele Lomba argued that the company is capable of protecting the region’s fauna and flora and that it is necessary to invest in communication to maintain this debate with society.
“We really need to invest in communication, invest in clarifications, in events like this and get closer to the press,” Lomba underlined, adding that we need to demonstrate to society “our ability to do [a exploração] in a safe and sustainable way.”
For the state company’s exploration manager, Jonilton Pessoa, the company’s history shows that it operates in maximum safety. “We are a global reference in deep and ultra-deepwater. Operating with a particular focus on safety, we have already drilled more than 3 thousand deepwater wells, without accidents involving people or damage to the environment.”
The Brazilian equatorial margin, which Petrobras intends to explore, is a geographical region that extends from the mouth of the Oiapoque River to the north coast of the Rio Grande do Norte, covering the drainage basins of the mouth of the Amazon River
With Agência Brasil
Source: Terra
Ashley is a professional author and journalist, working at 247 News Update. She writes on various topics from economy news to general interest pieces, providing readers with relevant and informative content. She brings a unique perspective and in-depth analysis to her work.
