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Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Brazil sells rights to oil, gas blocks near Amazon river mouth
RIO DE JANEIRO: Manoki Indigenous people take part in a demonstration in front of the hotel where an auction organized by Brazil's Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (ANP) is taking place, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 17, 2025. - AFP RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil sold extraction rights to 19 oil and gas blocks near the mouth of the Amazon river Tuesday, at an auction slammed by environmentalists months before the country is to host a UN climate summit. Two consortiums - one comprising Brazil's state-owned Petrobras and US giant ExxonMobil, the other US multinational Chevron and China's CNPC - spent $153 million on exploration and production concessions for 19 blocks on offer in an area considered vulnerable to environmental harm. They are among 172 blocks, most of them offshore, that went on auction Tuesday as dozens of protesters gathered outside the venue under a banner reading: 'Stop the doomsday auctions.' Green groups have expressed particular concern over 47 blocks in the Atlantic, in an area near the mouth of the Amazon River that flows through the world's largest carbon-capturing tropical rainforest. The first 19 blocks to which rights were sold were part of these 47. In all, 34 blocks found takers at the auction, bringing in about $180 million for the state. Investments of more than $260 million are planned for exploration. Already Latin America's biggest oil and gas producer, Brazil is seeking to increase production from 4.68 million to 5.3 million barrels per day by 2030. At the same time, the country has pledged to reduce its emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions to 1.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e). By 2050, it is seeking to reach neutrality - meaning emissions do not exceed the amount captured, by forests, for example. Brazil's ClimaInfo research institute had estimated that the 172 blocks placed on auction would emit some 11.1 billion tons of CO2e. Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, seeking to position himself as a leader in the fight against climate change, supported the auction that will see the successful bidders pay royalties on whatever oil and natural gas they eventually do extract. 'If this wealth exists, we cannot ignore it, as it will help us to make the energy transition and secure funds to preserve our forests,' Lula declared in February. 'We must act responsibly. I do not want oil exploration to cause any harm to the environment,' he added. Before they can start exploration, the companies must obtain a drilling license from environment oversight body Ibama. The Climate Action Tracker has said Brazil 'is not on track' to meet its emissions targets and needed to 'peak and rapidly decrease emissions' if the world is to succeed in limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The auction went ahead despite Brazil's Federal Public Ministry, an independent rights-monitoring body set up under the Brazilian constitution, calling for it to be suspended pending 'adequate studies' on the potential impact of exploration. 'Brazil is missing an opportunity to be a leader in decarbonization and environmental protection,' Suely Araujo, a former president of Ibama and coordinator of the Climate Observatory NGO said ahead of Tuesday's auction. And the WWF's Brazil branch said the country 'already has enough oil reserves to meet its internal demand' while gradually transitioning to a greener energy mix. 'The climate crisis requires bold decisions and public policies focused on the future, not the past,' it added. Brazil will host the UN climate conference called COP30 in November in the Amazonian city of Belem.- AFP
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brazil sells rights to oil blocks near Amazon river mouth
Brazil sold extraction rights to 19 oil and gas blocks near the mouth of the Amazon river Tuesday, at an auction slammed by environmentalists months before the country is to host a UN climate summit. Two consortiums -- one comprising Brazil's state-owned Petrobras and US giant ExxonMobil, the other US multinational Chevron and China's CNPC -- spent $153 million on exploration and production concessions for 19 blocks on offer in an area considered vulnerable to environmental harm. They are among 172 blocks, most of them offshore, that went on auction Tuesday as dozens of protesters gathered outside the venue under a banner reading: "Stop the doomsday auctions." Green groups have expressed particular concern over 47 blocks in the Atlantic, in an area near the mouth of the Amazon River that flows through the world's largest carbon-capturing tropical rainforest. The first 19 blocks to which rights were sold were part of these 47. In all, 34 blocks found takers at the auction, bringing in about $180 million for the state. Investments of more than $260 million are planned for exploration. - 'Cannot ignore it' - Already Latin America's biggest oil and gas producer, Brazil is seeking to increase production from 4.68 million to 5.3 million barrels per day by 2030. At the same time, the country has pledged to reduce its emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions to 1.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e). By 2050, it is seeking to reach neutrality -- meaning emissions do not exceed the amount captured, by forests, for example. Brazil's ClimaInfo research institute had estimated that the 172 blocks placed on auction would emit some 11.1 billion tons of CO2e. Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, seeking to position himself as a leader in the fight against climate change, supported the auction that will see the successful bidders pay royalties on whatever oil and natural gas they eventually do extract. "If this wealth exists, we cannot ignore it, as it will help us to make the energy transition and secure funds to preserve our forests," Lula declared in February. "We must act responsibly. I do not want oil exploration to cause any harm to the environment," he added. Before they can start exploration, the companies must obtain a drilling license from environment oversight body Ibama -- a process that can take years. The Climate Action Tracker, which measures governments' actions, has said Brazil "is not on track" to meet its emissions targets and needed to "peak and rapidly decrease emissions" if the world is to succeed in limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit). The auction went ahead despite Brazil's Federal Public Ministry, an independent rights-monitoring body set up under the Brazilian constitution, calling for it to be suspended pending "adequate studies" on the potential impact of exploration. "Brazil is missing an opportunity to be a leader in decarbonization and environmental protection," Suely Araujo, a former president of Ibama and coordinator of the Climate Observatory NGO said ahead of Tuesday's auction. And the WWF's Brazil branch said the country "already has enough oil reserves to meet its internal demand" while gradually transitioning to a greener energy mix. "The climate crisis requires bold decisions and public policies focused on the future, not the past," it added. Brazil will host the UN climate conference called COP30 in November in the Amazonian city of Belem. lg/tmo/mlr/dw
Int'l Business Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Brazil Sells Exploration Rights To Oil Blocks Near Amazon River Mouth
Brazil sold exploration rights to 19 oil and gas blocks near the mouth of the Amazon river Tuesday, at the start of an auction slammed by environmentalists months before the country is to host the COP30 climate summit. Two consortiums -- one comprising Brazil's state-owned Petrobras and US giant ExxonMobil, the other US multinational Chevron and China's CNPC -- spent $153 million on the rights to 19 of 47 deepwater blocks on offer in an area considered vulnerable to environmental harm. They are among 172 oil blocks, most of them offshore, placed on auction Tuesday, with some 30 companies registered to take part. Shortly after opening, rights to the first 19 blocks were snatched up as dozens of protesters gathered outside under a banner reading: "Stop the doomsday auctions." Green groups have expressed particular concern over the 47 Atlantic exploration blocks in an area near the mouth of the Amazon River that flows through the world's largest carbon-capturing tropical rainforest. If exploited, the 172 blocks would emit some 11.1 billion tons of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere, according to Brazil's ClimaInfo research institute -- undermining the country's target to become a net zero emitter of planet-warming greenhouse gases. Already Latin America's biggest oil and gas producer, Brazil is seeking to increase production from 4.68 million to 5.3 million barrels per day by 2030. Under the 2015 Paris climate agreements, Brazil has pledged to reduce its emissions to 1.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030, and to reach neutrality by 2050 -- meaning emissions do not exceed the amount captured, by forests for example. Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, seeking to position himself as a leader in the fight against climate change, nevertheless supports the auction. "If this wealth exists, we cannot ignore it, as it will help us to make the energy transition and secure funds to preserve our forests," he declared in February. "We must act responsibly. I do not want oil exploration to cause any harm to the environment," he added. The Climate Action Tracker, which measures governments' actions, has said Brazil "is not on track to reach either its 2025 target or its 2030" and the country "needs to peak and rapidly decrease emissions" to achieve its contribution to the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit). "Opening new frontiers for exploration in fragile ecosystems increases the risk of environmental disasters and heightens threats to... marine biodiversity," Greenpeace Brazil's Mariana Andrade told AFP. The auction went ahead despite Brazil's Federal Public Ministry, an independent rights-monitoring body set up under the Brazilian constitution, calling for it to be suspended pending "adequate studies" on the potential impact of exploration. Petrobras is awaiting a license from environment oversight body Ibama to begin a mega oil exploration project for which it obtained a concession in 2013 in the same area. Brazil will host the COP30 UN climate conference in November in the Amazonian city of Belem. "Brazil is missing an opportunity to be a leader in decarbonization and environmental protection," said Suely Araujo, a former president of Ibama and coordinator of the Climate Observatory NGO. "The government clearly expresses its intent to increase oil production," she said in a statement. Indigenous people take part in a demonstration in front of the hotel in Rio de Janeiro where an oil blocks auction is taking place AFP
France 24
3 days ago
- Business
- France 24
Brazil sells exploration rights to oil blocks near Amazon river mouth
Two consortiums -- one comprising Brazil's state-owned Petrobras and US giant ExxonMobil, the other US multinational Chevron and China's CNPC -- spent $153 million on the rights to 19 of 47 deepwater blocks on offer in an area considered vulnerable to environmental harm. They are among 172 oil blocks, most of them offshore, placed on auction Tuesday, with some 30 companies registered to take part. Shortly after opening, rights to the first 19 blocks were snatched up as dozens of protesters gathered outside under a banner reading: "Stop the doomsday auctions." Green groups have expressed particular concern over the 47 Atlantic exploration blocks in an area near the mouth of the Amazon River that flows through the world's largest carbon-capturing tropical rainforest. If exploited, the 172 blocks would emit some 11.1 billion tons of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere, according to Brazil's ClimaInfo research institute -- undermining the country's target to become a net zero emitter of planet-warming greenhouse gases. Already Latin America's biggest oil and gas producer, Brazil is seeking to increase production from 4.68 million to 5.3 million barrels per day by 2030. Under the 2015 Paris climate agreements, Brazil has pledged to reduce its emissions to 1.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030, and to reach neutrality by 2050 -- meaning emissions do not exceed the amount captured, by forests for example. 'Cannot ignore it' Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, seeking to position himself as a leader in the fight against climate change, nevertheless supports the auction. "If this wealth exists, we cannot ignore it, as it will help us to make the energy transition and secure funds to preserve our forests," he declared in February. "We must act responsibly. I do not want oil exploration to cause any harm to the environment," he added. The Climate Action Tracker, which measures governments' actions, has said Brazil "is not on track to reach either its 2025 target or its 2030" and the country "needs to peak and rapidly decrease emissions" to achieve its contribution to the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit). "Opening new frontiers for exploration in fragile ecosystems increases the risk of environmental disasters and heightens threats to... marine biodiversity," Greenpeace Brazil's Mariana Andrade told AFP. The auction went ahead despite Brazil's Federal Public Ministry, an independent rights-monitoring body set up under the Brazilian constitution, calling for it to be suspended pending "adequate studies" on the potential impact of exploration. Petrobras is awaiting a license from environment oversight body Ibama to begin a mega oil exploration project for which it obtained a concession in 2013 in the same area. Brazil will host the COP30 UN climate conference in November in the Amazonian city of Belem. "Brazil is missing an opportunity to be a leader in decarbonization and environmental protection," said Suely Araujo, a former president of Ibama and coordinator of the Climate Observatory NGO.
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Brazil's Lula joins growing chorus of calls to overhaul Haiti security mission
FILE PHOTO: People walk through a makeshift shelter at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which houses individuals displaced by gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Jean Feguens Regala/File Photo Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivers a speech during the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) at The Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on June 8, 2025. LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo BRASILIA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday became the latest world leader to call for a stronger security force in Haiti, as the underfunded, poorly manned U.N.-backed mission has failed to make headway against the nation's spiraling gang crisis. A record 1.3 million people have been displaced from Haiti in the past six months as armed violence surges, according to U.N. data. Experts say the security mission on the ground there, led by Kenya with support from the U.N., is not enough. Lula, meeting with Caribbean leaders in capital Brasilia, called for the U.N. to finance the mission under its current structure or to convert it into an official peacekeeping mission. "Stabilizing the security situation is essential to take the next step in the political process and hold presidential elections," Lula said. Brazil led a peacekeeping mission to Haiti from 2004 to 2017, though it was marred by a deadly cholera outbreak and allegations of human rights abuses which have left many Haitians wary of an official force. At the moment, the U.N. manages the funds for the Haitian mission, which come from voluntary donations by countries. Many have pledged funds which have yet to arrive. A transition to a formal peacekeeping mission, which would ensure stable funding, would need to be approved by the U.N. Security Council. The U.S. had previously backed the move, though Russia and China, which hold veto powers, were against it. Other world leaders, including France, the Dominican Republic and Colombia, have called for increased support in recent months. France, which colonized Haiti, in April said it was "time to move on" to a peacekeeping mission. Dominican President Luis Abinader, in a letter signed by other former presidents, asked the U.N. earlier this month to consider a hybrid mission to provide logistics and operational support. "Without urgent and effective strengthening of the (mission), there is a real risk that Haiti will be completely dominated by (gangs)... and become a regional hub for drug trafficking, terrorism and other transnational crimes," they wrote. Colombian President Gustavo Petro, following a previous suggestion from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, last week asked the Organization of American States to deploy troops to Haiti. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
