Brazil’s state-controlled oil giant Petrobras has completed construction of a specialized animal rehabilitation facility in the Amazon region, a key step required to secure environmental clearance for an offshore exploration project.
The veterinary center, located in the municipality of Oiapoque in Amapá state, is intended to provide care for wildlife—such as birds, sea turtles, dolphins, manatees, and other marine mammals—in the event of an oil spill.
This facility was a major condition set by Brazil’s environmental regulator, Ibama, in response to Petrobras’ proposal to begin offshore drilling in the ecologically sensitive Foz do Amazonas region.
While the Amapá state government has already granted the center an operational license, federal authorization from Ibama is still pending. Petrobras confirmed in a statement that the site will be open for inspection starting Monday.
The oil firm hopes to start exploratory drilling in a block situated roughly 540 kilometers (around 325 miles) from Amapá’s shoreline. The Foz do Amazonas area, part of Brazil’s Equatorial Margin, is considered the country’s most promising new oil frontier. It shares geological characteristics with Guyana, where ExxonMobil has made significant discoveries and developments.
Ibama had previously rejected Petrobras’ drilling request in 2023, citing environmental concerns. The company has since submitted a revised application, which is currently under review. There is no specified timeline for when a decision will be made.
