Lula pushes for Amazon oil exploration despite environmental concerns
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is urging the country’s environmental regulator to approve offshore oil drilling near the Amazon, arguing that new revenues could support a transition to clean energy.
Fabiano Maisonnave reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Brazil’s environmental regulator, Ibama, previously rejected Petrobras’ request to drill in the Equatorial Margin due to concerns about oil spill risks in a biodiverse region. The company has appealed, and a decision is pending.
- Lula criticized Ibama’s delays, saying oil exploration must proceed to assess available reserves, and promised environmental precautions while emphasizing the economic benefits.
- The move comes as Brazil prepares to host the UN climate summit, COP30, in November, where global efforts to curb fossil fuel use will be a key topic.
Key quote:
“We will follow all the necessary procedures to ensure no harm to nature, but we can’t ignore the wealth beneath us and choose not to explore it — especially because this wealth will provide the funds for the much-needed and long-awaited energy transition.”
— Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil
Why this matters:
Brazil’s ambitions as both an oil powerhouse and an environmental leader are facing a critical test as the country moves forward with plans for offshore drilling near the mouth of the Amazon River. The area, home to a vast and largely unexplored reef system, has drawn intense scrutiny from scientists and environmentalists who warn that an oil spill could cause irreversible harm to one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. Nearly 90% of the country’s electricity comes from clean sources, primarily hydropower, with growing investments in wind and solar. But oil remains a pillar of its economy, generating billions in government revenue and funding social programs.
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