Petrobras simulation for Foz do Amazonas drilling license scheduled for late August
The so-called pre-operation assessment is seen as the last step before Ibama rules on whether to grant Petrobras a long-sought drilling license in the region.
The Foz do Amazonas basin is part of the Equatorial Margin, Brazil's most promising frontier for oil exploration due to shared geology with nearby Guyana, where Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), opens new tab is developing huge fields.
Petrobras has spent years seeking permits to drill in the environmentally sensitive region that is home to vast coral reefs, opens new tab and coastal Indigenous communities.
In June, oil majors acquired 19 blocks in Foz do Amazonas during an auction, with Petrobras partnering with Exxon in 10, and a Chevron-led consortium with China's state-owned CNPC acquiring nine blocks.
The acquisitions happened even though Ibama's President Rodrigo Agostinho has said it would be hard to issue new licenses without a complex environmental study known as an AAAS, which could take years to complete.
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The Guardian
32 minutes ago
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