Offshore staff
BRASILIA, Brazil – Ibama, Brazil’s Environmental Agency, has rejected Total’s latest application to start deepwater drilling in the mouth of the Amazon basin under its joint venture with BP.
Suely Araujo, Ibama’s president, reportedly stated that Total had not provided adequate information on the environmental impact of the project, making it impossible to grant the license.
According to Greenpeace, Total admits in its environmental impact assessment (EIA) that there is a 30% probability of oil reaching a nearby reef in the event of a spill during drilling.
Ibama also cited oil dispersion modeling and potential cross-border risks to French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela and the Caribbean archipelagos, and drew attention to a lack of information on possible impacts to the welfare of mammals, turtles and birds in the region.
Total has a third and final chance to send additional documentation as requested by Ibama, Araujo reportedly added.
08/30/2017
