Petrobras on the Equatorial Margin

In relation to the article published in the press this Tuesday (30/01) about Ibama predicting maximum environmental impact in oil exploration in Foz do Amazonas, Petrobras clarifies:

Degree of impact:

Firstly, we would like to clarify that Decree 6,848/09 establishes the guidelines for calculating the degree of impact of the activity, for the purpose of defining environmental compensation, on a scale of 0 to 0.5%. According to the Decree, some aspects must be considered, such as magnitude of impacts, biodiversity, temporality and priority areas for conservation.

The application of these guidelines is susceptible to subjectivity, IBAMA has discretion to calculate the degree of impact and, consequently, the value of environmental compensation for each activity or enterprise.

But it is important to emphasize that the calculation of the degree of impact does not mean that the activity intended by Petrobras will cause impacts on the environment or on sensitive areas and fauna, but rather that there is the presence of these areas in the region of the project. For each possible impact identified in environmental studies, measures are proposed to avoid and/or mitigate the impacts, that is, given the measures proposed and implemented by the company, the identified impact may not occur or have its magnitude reduced quite significantly.

For the reasons explained above, for the purpose of calculating environmental compensation, practically all projects subject to EIA-RIMA licensed by IBAMA have their degree of impact value defined at its maximum value, in this case 0.5%.

Acceptance of the degree by Petrobras:

Regarding the calculation of the degree of impact made by IBAMA for the FZA-M-59 project, it is important to clarify that environmental compensation is only due after obtaining the intended Environmental License and signing the Environmental Compensation Commitment Term, when it is formalized for the company how much will be allocated and which Conservation Units will be covered with the resources. Petrobras will evaluate the measures and any questions regarding the degree of impact at the appropriate time.
Regarding the differences in values calculated by IBAMA for the FZA-4 and 59 projects, the environmental agency has discretion in establishing the degree of impact and there is no technical justification for the value of 0.5% attributed to FZA-M-59 . For similar activities, as the article itself brought the example of the FZA-4 block, whose calculated value was 0.28%, the criteria applied were different.
It is important to note that the FZA-4 block is in shallow waters and the FZA-M-59 block is in ultra-deep waters.

Payment protection:

Petrobras does not delay payments. The allocation of environmental compensation resources from block FZA-4 was defined, on 03/28/2018, at the 67th Ordinary Meeting of the CCAF (Environmental and Forestry Compensation Chamber), formed by IBAMA, ICMBIO and MMA. Only in June/2023, IBAMA defined the monetary update rate for the payment amount and, as a result, in December/2023, ICMBIO made the final version of the Environmental Compensation Commitment Term (TCCA) available for signature.

On 01/15/24, Petrobras signed the document.

Accident in 2011:

Regarding the operational incident that occurred with the FZA-4 well in 2011, it is important to inform the population that the well remained in an absolutely safe condition at all times and there was no damage to the environment or accidents to people. Furthermore, no drilling equipment was left on the seabed and any conclusion to the contrary is unfounded.

IBAMA itself acknowledged that the operational incident recorded during operations at the Oiapoque well did not result in marine pollution or non-compliance with the previously approved Individual Emergency Plan.

Finally, Petrobras values respect for life, people and the environment and will continue to carry out all its operations strictly following operational safety standards, good social relations practices and legislation, with total respect and care with the environment and communities.