Brazil Approves Controversial Oil Drilling in Amazon Delta

Brazil’s state-owned oil giant Petrobras has been granted permission to drill for oil near the mouth of the Amazon River, sparking intense backlash from environmental groups. Critics warn the move undermines Brazil’s credibility as host of the upcoming UN COP30 climate summit in November.

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Environmentalists reacted furiously to the decision, describing it as a betrayal of Brazil’s environmental leadership and a threat to fragile ecosystems.

“The government is sabotaging the leadership it should have at COP30,” said Suely Araújo, former Ibama president and coordinator of the Climate Observatory NGO.
“How can our diplomats argue for a global shift away from fossil fuels while Brazil intensifies exploration?”

The Climate Observatory and other civil society groups vowed to challenge the decision in court.

Araújo previously rejected a similar request from TotalEnergies in 2018 for drilling in nearby offshore blocks, warning that Petrobras’ new approval would pave the way for further exploitation in the same area.

The administration of President Lula da Silva insists that expanding oil production is compatible with climate goals. Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira defended the decision, calling it a matter of national sovereignty and economic pragmatism.

“The Foz de Amazonas region represents the future of our oil sovereignty. As long as the world demands oil, someone will supply it,” Silveira said.
“Brazil is going to COP with its head held high.”

According to Petrobras president Magda Chambriard, the exploratory well could help confirm “the existence of oil in the Brazilian portion of this new global energy frontier.”

Environmentalists and conservation groups have warned that the drilling area lies near one of the world’s most delicate marine ecosystems, marked by:

• Strong ocean currents and seasonal storms
• 80% of Brazil’s mangrove forests
• Habitat for endangered species, including manatees

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Brazil stated that an oil spill could cause “irreversible damage” to biodiversity.

While Ibama’s technical report acknowledged the environmental risks, it ultimately approved the drilling following what it described as a “rigorous environmental licensing process.”

The agency has required Petrobras to participate in manatee conservation and conduct further environmental testing during drilling.

The licence follows a five-year dispute over whether Petrobras could explore the region.

Despite the earlier rejection, political pressure from President Lula reportedly mounted after he criticised Ibama for acting “as if it were against the government.”

Brazil, the eighth-largest oil producer globally, relies heavily on renewable energy domestically, yet exports more than half its oil output. This means while its national emissions remain relatively low, the exported oil still contributes significantly to global carbon emissions.

Environmental campaigners, such as Ilan Zugman of 350.org, warned that the decision entrenches an outdated and destructive model of economic development: “Authorising new oil licences in the Amazon is not just a historic mistake—it’s doubling down on a model that has already failed.”

The COP30 summit, scheduled in Belém, Amazonia (10–21 November), will focus on accelerating the global transition away from fossil fuels. Yet Brazil’s latest move threatens to overshadow its climate diplomacy with accusations of hypocrisy.

As Petrobras prepares to begin drilling, the world’s attention turns to the Amazon delta, where the clash between economic ambition and environmental responsibility has rarely been so stark.