Brazilian Prosecutors Seek Urgent Halt to Amazon Oil Drilling Approval

Legal Challenge to Amazon Oil Exploration

The Brazilian Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) in Pará state filed a lawsuit on December 4, 2025, seeking an immediate suspension of the license granted to state-owned energy major Petrobras for oil drilling in the Amazon River estuary. The MPF announced its legal action on December 10, 2025, arguing that the authorization failed to adequately protect local fishing communities.

The lawsuit targets the approval for drilling in Block 59 (FZA-M-59) of the Foz do Amazonas basin, an area located approximately 175 kilometers off the coast of Amapá state and about 500 kilometers from the mouth of the Amazon River.

Concerns Over Environmental and Social Impacts

The MPF's legal challenge is based on a technical analysis that points to 'structural flaws in environmental studies presented by Petrobras,' including the 'absence of a compensation plan for fishing activity during the exploratory phase.' Prosecutors contend that this oversight leaves 'thousands of fishing and extractive communities unprotected,' particularly in Pará state, whose territories are impacted by the project's logistics.

The lawsuit criticizes the licensing process as one 'that resulted in the technical recognition that there will be direct, regional, and significant negative impacts on fishing, without the corresponding imposition of effective remediation mechanisms,' according to reports. Furthermore, the MPF highlighted the need for immediate inclusion of the municipalities of Primavera and Capanema in Pará within the area of influence, as their companies are listed as destinations for drilling waste.

Background of the Licensing Process

Brazil's environmental agency, Ibama, granted Petrobras the authorization to drill the first deep-water well in the region on October 20, 2025. This approval came after a lengthy process, with Ibama stating that it had conducted a 'rigorous' assessment and that Petrobras had made improvements to the project to respond to possible emergencies. Petrobras had previously initiated an emergency drill in the Foz do Amazonas basin in August 2025 as part of its efforts to secure environmental clearance.

The region, part of the Equatorial Margin, is considered a promising oil frontier due to its geological similarities with oil-rich zones in Guyana and Suriname. However, the exploration plans have faced significant resistance from environmentalists and indigenous rights campaigners, who warn of potential impacts on fragile ecosystems, including the Great Amazon Reef System, and traditional communities.

Petrobras and Ibama Respond

Petrobras has stated that it followed all legal requirements and met every request from the regulatory body, expressing confidence that the operating license would be issued soon. The company has incurred substantial standby costs for its drillship while awaiting the license. As of the announcement of the lawsuit, Ibama had not yet received official notification regarding the legal action and indicated it would comment once notified.