Ibama (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) issued an infraction notice against Petrobras in the amount of R$2.5 million for a leak of drilling fluid from an exploratory well in the Foz do Amazonas Basin, in January.
The information, published by the organization this Friday (6), confirms a Reuters report that the institute would fine Petrobras, according to an interview with Ibama president, Rodrigo Agostinho.
The region where Petrobras carries out exploratory work to find oil and gas is considered , but it also has .
According to Ibama, the fine arises from the discharge of 18.44 m³ of non-aqueous drilling fluid (oily mixture) into the sea, coming from drilling ship 42 (NS-42).
Drilling fluid is a mixture of products used during the well drilling process in oil and gas exploration and production activities.
According to Ibama, the liquid accidentally discharged into the sea by Petrobras contains components classified as risk category B, which represents a medium risk for both human health and the aquatic ecosystem.
From the date of the infraction notice, Petrobras has 20 days to pay the fine or present an administrative defense.
When contacted, Petrobras did not comment on the matter immediately.
This week, which had been suspended at the beginning of the year due to the leak, imposing some conditions, according to a document seen by Reuters.
Initially, the state-owned company planned to complete activities at the well in approximately five months.
generated , who have been warning for years about the potential impact that oil exploration could have on the region’s marine and coastal ecosystems.
The president of Ibama told Reuters earlier that the agency is very strict in granting exploration licensing because, although accidents do happen, management plans are designed to “reduce as much as possible the possibility of this type of situation occurring.”
“It’s that thing, you have the extinguisher on the wall, but you don’t want there to be a fire”, he compared, evaluating that the Foz do Amazonas region is “more sensitive” because, even though it is on the high seas, there are areas of coral and mangroves on the coast.
The president of Ibama mentioned that Petrobras is the number 1 fined by the environmental agency, “normally because of small incidents”.
