MPF requests court to prohibit oil exploration in the Amazon River mouth

The MPF argues that the lack of these studies violates international commitments made by Brazil. ‘Failure to comply with the duty of due diligence may result in Brazil’s condemnation for violation of human and environmental rights, especially for putting at risk unique ecosystems and the integrity of traditional populations,’ said the agency in a statement.
The license was granted on the 20th for the exploration of Block 59, 500 kilometers from the Amazon River mouth. The region is part of the Equatorial Margin, an area that spans from Amapá to Rio Grande do Norte and houses the largest mangrove forest in the world, as well as one of the largest reef systems in the Amazon. An oil leak in the region could cause an environmental disaster.
The MPF has already requested the Justice to prohibit IBAMA from issuing the license until Petrobras demonstrates real capacity to respond in case of an oil leak. Last week, the agency suggested that the state-owned company conducts a new emergency response drill.
Petrobras denies that the exploration will put the Amazon River mouth at risk. ‘We will operate in the Equatorial Margin with safety, responsibility, and technical quality,’ said the president of the state-owned company, Magda Chambriard.