Lula hails new oil find as 'passport to the future'
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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva praised the recent oil discovery near the Amazon coast on Monday, describing it as a "passport to the future". Despite environmentalists' opposition to drilling in the area, Petrobras announced the identification of hydrocarbons off the coast of northern Amapa state, a year after commencing drilling.
The state-owned firm initiated exploration after a five-year process to acquire an environmental permit. Lula, dressed in a Petrobras orange jumpsuit, declared the discovery a "passport to this country's future" while acknowledging his commitment to phasing out fossil fuels for clean energy and energy sovereignty. He joked about keeping a sample of the crude oil in a chest, noting its pleasant smell.
The oil was discovered in the Equatorial Margin, approximately 175 km offshore from the Amazon. Petrobras expects another 15 to 20 days of drilling to ascertain the size of the field. Despite the environmental concerns, Lula believes that oil revenue is crucial for Brazil's transition to clean energy. At 80 years old, he aims to secure a fourth non-consecutive term in the upcoming October elections.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
