Civil society organizations warned that the issuance of the environmental license for the exploration of fossil fuels in the FZA-M-59 block, in Foz do Amazonas, would open the “gate” for the licensing of other areas in the basin. Despite existing flaws in the process, such as the lack of consultation with Indigenous and Quilombola Peoples and the lack of knowledge about the impacts of oil activity on the Amazon reef system, IBAMA granted authorization. Now, the environmental agency admits that the release “tends to facilitate” the path to other blocks in the region, according to Valor. In other words, the “fossil herd” should soon pass.
Block 59 license facilitates the process for other areas in Foz do Amazonas
Civil society organizations warned that the issuance of the environmental license for the exploration of fossil fuels in the FZA-M-59 block, in Foz do Amazonas, would open the “gate” for the licensing of other areas in...
At the moment, there are 25 areas in Foz already granted to oil companies. As well as Block 59, Petrobras owns five other areas auctioned by the National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANP) in 2013. In partnership with the American company ExxonMobil, the Brazilian state-owned company also purchased another ten blocks in the region at the “End of the World Auction” in June 2025. In the same event, the American company Chevron and the Chinese company CNPC acquired nine other areas.
For the general coordinator of environmental licensing for marine and coastal projects at IBAMA, Itagyba Alvarenga Neto, the process of the first block brought lessons that support the other license requests in Foz. “The licensing process feeds back on itself. With Block 59, we saw where we can improve and also that we can follow the example of the emergency response structure. Constructions such as the fauna support center [installed in Oiapoque, in the extreme north of Amapá] have become legacies that cannot existed in that region, due to requests from IBAMA.”
At the request of the environmental agency, Petrobras reviewed the environmental studies for the drilling of other exploratory wells in the five blocks purchased in 2013. Blocks FZA-M-57, FZA-M-86, FZA-M-88, FZA-M-125 and FZA-M-127 are being licensed by IBAMA together, which should accelerate the release of licenses. According to the oil company's plans, seven wells will be drilled: three in Block 57, three in 88 and one in 127.
In addition to the 25 blocks granted, the ANP approved at the end of June the indication of 86 exploration blocks in the list of areas under study for possible inclusion in Permanent Concession Offer (OPC) auctions. The list includes 36 areas in Foz do Amazonas, confirming the government's willingness to expand exploration activity in the region. Wait for the climate crisis.
Source: ClimaInfo
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