Petrobras has completed the animal care center needed for offshore license

Petrobras, Brazil's state-run oil firm, has finished the work required to get an environmental permit in order to drill offshore. The company announced this on Saturday.

The Animal Care Center in Oiapoque in Amapa State is designed to help animals in case of an oil spill.

Ibama, the Brazilian environmental agency, made this demand in response to Petrobras’ proposal to drill offshore near Foz do Amazonas.

Amapa has issued the veterinary centre with an operating license, but Ibama must still approve it. Petrobras announced in a press release that it had informed the agency of the availability of the center for inspection beginning Monday.

Petrobras said the center was designed to provide care for marine mammals, birds, turtles, manatees and dolphins. The company plans to drill exploratory wells in a block of 540 km (325 miles) offshore Amapa.

Foz do Amazonas, in Brazil's so-called Equatorial Margin, is the most promising oil frontier. The geology is similar to that of nearby Guyana where Exxon Mobil has developed huge oil fields.

Ibama has blocked Petrobras' drilling in the area by 2023. However, the company submitted a new application, which is being assessed by the agency. No deadline has been set for the final answer. (Reporting and writing by Marta Nogueira, Editing and editing by Cynthia Osterman).

(source: Reuters)