Rodrigo Agostinho said he is awaiting a position from the National Congress to move forward with the policy, but the issue does not “contaminate” environmental licensing
The president of Ibama, Rodrigo Agostinho, said, during a public hearing in the Senate this Thursday (April 25, 2024), that Ibama is not responsible for energy policy and, therefore, will not carry out the energy transition in Brazil.
“It is not Ibama that makes energy policy. Brazil has other institutions for this. Ibama carries out environmental licensing. I may have personal positions related to the sector, but this does not at any time contaminate the debate and environmental licensing”said the president of the municipality.
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According to law 11,516/2007, Ibama’s main duties are to exercise the power of “environmental police”. Among its responsibilities, it grants licenses for the exploration of natural resources and monitors environmental control.
According to Agostinho, however, there is concern about the matter and Ibama is waiting “very anxious” approval of the regulatory framework for wind farms offshore by the National Congress to be able to move forward with this policy. Petrobras has already presented wind energy production projects to Ibama in offshore.
The president also said that the energy transition – that is, the exchange of an energy source matrix that uses fossil fuels for renewable sources – is already happening in the country, which he considers to be a reference on the topic.
According to the MME (Ministry of Mines Energy), the country has 48% of its energy coming from renewable sources, well above the world average – which is 15%. The ministry is primarily responsible for the National Energy Transition Policy.
However, this transition does not affect the granting of oil and gas licenses, according to Agostinho, and Ibama would be licensing one of the largest oil projects (the 4th phase of the pre-salt).
The speech was given during a debate on the economic potential of oil and gas reserves in the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, held at the CMA (Environment Commission) of the Federal Senate. The guarantee of safe environmental conditions to carry out explorations was also discussed.
Regarding a speculated pause in licensing, the president of Ibama explained that there is, in this case, a “delay” in processes due to the mobilization of employees. According to him, the body would have suffered numerous budget cuts in 2023 and is trying to “find budget windows to catch up”.
Proposals presented by the federal government’s MGI (Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services) seek to advance agreements that discuss the appreciation of environmental employees.
The following were present at the commission:
- Petrobras Licensing Manager, Daniele Lomba;
- senator Randolfe Rodrigues (no party-AP);
- senator Beto Faro (PT-PA);
- the general coordinator of the FUP (Single Federation of Oil Workers), Deyvid Bacelar;
- the Secretary of Planning of Amapá, Lucas Abrahão;
- the executive director of Exploration and Production of IBP(Brazilian Institute of Oil and Gas), Júlio César Moreira; It is
- the director of Exploration and Production at Petrobras, Joelson Falcão Mendes.
This report was produced by journalism intern Bruna Aragão under the supervision of assistant editor Victor Schneider.
