Oil & Gas DECODED
Previous edition: 15 May 2024
Share article
Get the full version straight to your inbox.
Exclusive access to our best-in-class data & intelligence
Subscribe now
Petrobras disputes Amazon drilling impact study
Brazilian environmental agency Ibama has insisted on these studies before it will consider Petrobras' appeal for a drilling licence.
Petrobras is challenging regulatory demands to conduct impact studies on indigenous communities for its proposed offshore drilling project near the Amazon River, reported Reuters.
The state-run oil company's chief exploration and production officer, Joelson Mendes, stated during a news conference on quarterly earnings that the studies were not legally required at this stage of the licensing process.
"Petrobras will not do these studies at this stage of the licensing process, because they are not legal," Mendes was quoted by the publication as saying.
Brazilian environmental agency Ibama has insisted on these studies before it will consider Petrobras' appeal for a drilling licence in the Foz do Amazonas basin.
However, Mendes expects intervention from Brazil's solicitor general, believing the request for new studies to be "not adequate at this point in the licensing process".
This stance could escalate tensions with the regulator, which previously denied a drilling licence due to potential impacts on indigenous groups and the coastal biome.
The Foz do Amazonas basin is part of the Equatorial Margin and is viewed as a highly promising area for oil exploration, sharing geological similarities with fields in nearby Guyana where ExxonMobil is active.
The licensing delays in this region are compounded by potential production impacts due to a labour strike at Ibama, which Mendes warned could hinder Petrobras' operational expansion.
Amidst these challenges, Petrobras' CEO has offered to resign, with the government preparing to appoint Magda Chambriard, former head of Brazilian oil and gas regulator ANP, as the new CEO.
The developments come after Petrobras reported a 38% drop in net recurring profit for the first quarter of 2024 compared with the previous year.
Latest news
ADNOC Drilling secures $1.7bn unconventional wells drilling contract in UAE
To explore future opportunities in unconventional resources, ADNOC Drilling has launched a new company, Turnwell Industries.
Equinor and Petoro agree on Haltenbanken area asset swap
This deal will see Equinor increase its stakes in the Heidrun field and Noatun discovery, while reducing its ownership in other fields.
Spanish oil company Repsol in talks for renewable energy unit stake sale
The move is aimed at funding the company’s growth plan through 2027 and diversifying its operations.
How Norway's oil and gas tax fuelled an EV boom
Despite being a major oil and gas producer, Norway is known as one of the cleanest nations thanks to a huge appetite for electric vehicles (EVs). How has the country used fossil fuel money to drive an EV revolution?
Emirates launches SAF operations at London Heathrow Airport
Emirates Airlines has started operating with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), with plans to use up to 155,000 tonnes (t) of SAF until the end of summer 2024.
Gas pipelines underpin global transmission pipelines projects growth by 2028
Globally, Asia dominates both in terms of pipeline project count and length by 2028.
In our previous edition
Oil & Gas Decoded
UK MoD: Russia-Ukraine war a factor in Gazprom's massive 2023 loss
14 May 2024
Oil & Gas Decoded
Fossil fuels generated less than a quarter of EU's electricity for first time in April
13 May 2024
Oil & Gas Decoded
Paraguay pushes for $1.5bn gas pipeline with Argentina and Brazil
10 May 2024
Newsletters in other sectors
Aerospace, Defence & Security
Automotive
Banking & Payments
Travel and Tourism
Search companies, themes, reports, as well as actionable data & insights spanning 22 global industries
Access more premium companies when you subscribe to Explorer