Lula, Ibama and the politicization of oil licensing in the Amazon: analysis of the clash

Refinaria de Petróleo Rússia

Former Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira criticized the politicization of the environmental licensing process for oil exploration in the Amazon's Equatorial Margin, highlighting that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) "made a mistake" in disqualifying Ibama, the agency responsible for technical analysis. The debate, which involves tensions between economic development and environmental protection, has taken on complex contours as the government presses for the release of Petrobras' research in the region. See the main points:

1. Izabella Teixeira's critique: technical vs. political

Izabella Teixeira, who headed the Ministry of the Environment between 2010 and 2016, argues that environmental licensing is a technical process and that early politicization has "contaminated" the debate. According to her, Ibama must assess the environmental viability of exploratory research before any political decision on commercial exploitation. The former minister emphasizes that Lula, by publicly criticizing the agency's "blah blah blah", disrespected institutional autonomy:

"His role is to demand speed, but not to belittle competent public institutions . "

She also questions the lack of transparency after the initial announcement of the denial of the license in 2023, which generated media polarization between Ibama, Petrobras and the government.

2. Lula's arguments and the pressure on Ibama

Lula defends exploration in the Equatorial Margin as a strategy to guarantee energy security and resources for the ecological transition, in addition to aligning himself with regional political interests, such as that of Senator Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), who sees the project as a source of royalties for Amapá. The president downplays environmental risks, claiming that the well is 530 km from the mouth of the Amazon, and criticizes Ibama's delay:

"Ibama is a government agency, and it seems to be against the government . "

This stance has sparked reactions from Ibama employees, who claim that the licensing process is being conducted under political, not technical, pressure. The National Association of Environmental Employees (Ascema) classified Lula's statements as "inadmissible", reinforcing that the agency is a "state agency" and acts based on scientific criteria.

3. Environmental risks and climate contradictions

The Equatorial Margin region is home to sensitive ecosystems, such as the Great Amazon Reef System and mangroves, as well as indigenous communities. Ibama already denied the license in 2023 due to gaps in Petrobras' emergency plan and risks of leaks, which could reach international waters in less than 10 hours. Environmentalists point out that the exploration goes against Brazil's discourse as a climate leader, especially with COP30 scheduled for Belém in November 2025.

Minister Marina Silva (Environment) avoids confronting Lula directly, but reinforces that the final decision is technical and recalls that the use of fossil fuels compromises global decarbonization goals.

4. The political game behind exploitation

The project unites Lula's allies in Congress, such as Alcolumbre, and sectors in the Northeast, which are seeking royalties. However, Petrobras faces skepticism: of the 94 wells drilled in the region, only 2% have shown economic viability, and historical accidents (such as the 2019 spill) warn of risks. In addition, Brazil's entry into OPEC+ in 2023 has generated criticism for aligning the country with global oil interests, contradicting the Paris Agreement.

5. Impacts on COP30 and the international scenario

COP30, which will take place in the Amazon, is putting Brazil under scrutiny. While the government promises to eliminate deforestation by 2030, oil exploration in the Amazon region could undermine its credibility. Izabella Teixeira warns that COP30 will be more complex than the one in Paris (2015), requiring concrete actions, not just speeches.

Conclusion

The impasse reflects the tension between immediate development and long-term sustainability. While Lula prioritizes resources to finance the energy transition, the politicization of licensing weakens environmental institutions and exposes contradictions in Brazilian climate policy. As Teixeira pointed out, the ideal path would be to clearly separate the technical (IBAMA) and political (government) stages, preventing the debate from being captured by short-term electoral or economic interests.