Total fails to obtain exploration permit in Brazil

/ Financial News / Wednesday, 02 January 2019 10:54

The Brazilian environmental agency Ibama rejected an appeal by Total against the refusal of an authorization to drill in five areas of the mouth of the Amazon.

“Given the many opportunities already given to the company to complete (the documentation presenting the guarantees claimed) and the importance of the identified technical problems, it is not possible to accept the appeal presented”, explained the president of Ibama, Suely Araujo.

The governmental agency emphasizes that no other appeal is possible upon the Ministry of the Environment (on which Ibama depends) or any other administrative authority.

The refusal of this exploration permit was requested last April by the Brazilian prosecutor's office and by environmental organizations.

At the beginning of December, the Ibama had declared to have detected “important uncertainties” in the peoject presented by Total for possible emergencies. The Brazilian agency mentioned “the possibility of an oil leak that could affect the coral reefs present in the region and by extension the marine biodiversity”.

Back in 2013, Total had partnered with the British BP and the Brazilian Petrobras to acquire exploration blocks in the mouth of the Amazon and was waiting to get the green light from the Brazilian authorities to start exploration work.

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