The deadline for Petrobras' deal with the vessel puts pressure on Foz do Amazonas
According to a government document, Petrobras must receive an environmental permit to drill in the Foz do Amazonas sensitive region before the end of April. Otherwise it will not have enough time to complete the contract for a drilling vessel in October.
The document, made public on Tuesday, sets a deadline for Petrobras. It has been waiting for the Brazilian environmental agency Ibama, since May 2023, to make a decision about its request to drill off the coast of Amapa, a state in northern Brazil.
The presentation stated that Petrobras, the state-owned oil giant, has already spent approximately 1 billion reais (174.34 millions dollars) on the drilling operation and that chartering the vessel will cost the oil giant about $400,000 per day.
The vessel has already been prepared for use. Ibama, in his speech earlier this month, approved Petrobras' plan to clean the ship from corals. This is a step necessary for the ship to be moved into the so-called Equatorial Margin. Petrobras considers the Equatorial Margin to be the most promising frontier of oil exploration.
A source with knowledge about the matter at Ibama said that replacing the current vessel could cause further delays. The vessel would need to be thoroughly cleaned of corals which can take a "long time."
Petrobras didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. Could not determine if the firm could extend the contract.
The document was published after Alexandre Silveira (Ministry of Mines and Energy) accused President Ibama not having "courage" in announcing the final position of the agency on the environmental licence.
Sources familiar with the issue say that in February, Ibama's technical staff recommended to the agency to deny Petrobras permission to drill in the Foz Do Amazonas Basin.
Ibama refused Petrobras’ request for a license to drill offshore in the region on May 20, 2023. The reason given was environmental concerns. Ibama has yet to make a final decision on the appeal filed by Petrobras.
(source: Reuters)
