Brazil’s government has given the green light to oil drilling near the mouth of the Amazon River ahead of the UN climate summit.

brazilThe government on Monday approved exploratory drilling by the state oil company petrobras Near the mouth of the Amazon River. The decision comes just weeks before the UN climate conference in Belém, COP30, where efforts to reduce fossil fuel use will be discussed.

Equatorial margin deposits off the coast of Brazil, extending from the Brazilian border suriname A part of the northeastern region of the country is considered rich in oil and gas.

Petrobras said in a statement that drilling could begin immediately and could take up to five months. It requested exploratory drilling in Block FZA-M-059, located 175 kilometers (108 miles) off the coast of the northern Brazilian state of Amapá, bordering Suriname. The company said the exploratory well would not produce any oil.

The decision by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, run by the country’s environment ministry, was publicly celebrated by Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira.

After the decision was announced, Silveira said on his social media channels, “The Equatorial Margin represents the future of our energy sovereignty. Brazil cannot stop realizing its potential.” “We have mounted a strong and technical defense (of drilling in the area) so that we can assure that exploration takes place with full environmental responsibility, within the highest international standards and with concrete benefits for Brazilians.”

In June, Brazil auctioned off several prospective land and offshore oil sites near the Amazon River as it aims to expand production in untapped areas despite opposition from environmental and indigenous groups. Nineteen offshore blocks awarded beamExxonMobil, Petrobras and China National Petroleum Corporation. Oil companies consider this field highly promising because its geological characteristics are similar GuyanaWhere some of the largest offshore oil discoveries of the 21st century have been made.

The area is considered to be of high potential risk due to strong currents and proximity to the Amazon coastline.

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