Brazil's Controversial Amazon Oil Auction Sparks Climate and Indigenous Rights Concerns
Brazil's National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) held a controversial fossil fuel auction on 17 June 2025. The event saw multinational giants Chevron, China's CNPC, ExxonMobil, and Petrobras acquire blocks in the Amazon region, sparking criticism from environmentalists and Indigenous communities.
The auction offered 172 oil and gas blocks, with 68 situated in the Amazon. Among them, 47 were in the mouth of the Amazon, and 19 were successfully concessioned, covering 16,312 km2 of marine territory. Critics, including Carolina Marçal of Instituto ClimaInfo and Gisela Hurtado of Stand.earth, argue that the auction fuels the climate crisis and threatens Amazon ecosystems and Indigenous territories.
Procedural flaws and insufficient impact analysis led Brazil's Federal Public Minister to file for an injunction to suspend the auction. The lack of a prior Environmental Assessment of Sedimentary Area (AAAS) and the absence of free, prior, and informed consent from Indigenous and traditional communities further drew criticism, violating ILO Convention 169. Mauricio Guetta of Avaaz warned that the decision may contravene Brazil's constitutional and international obligations.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has positioned himself as a climate protection advocate, faced sharp criticism for hosting the auction. Ilan Zugman of 350.org Latin America criticized the government for missing an opportunity to lead a just energy transition to renewable energy. Critics argue that the auction undermines Brazil's credibility as host of COP30 and sends contradictory signals about its climate commitments.
The Amazon oil and gas auction has raised concerns about Brazil's commitment to climate protection and Indigenous rights. Despite procedural flaws and criticism, multinational corporations successfully acquired blocks in the region. The decision's long-term implications for the Amazon's ecosystems and Indigenous communities remain to be seen.
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