Brazil's President Lula hails oil discovery near Amazon river
Brazilian President Lula da Silva has announced a new oil discovery by state-run company Petrobras near the mouth of the Amazon River. While the government views this as a boost for national energy security, environmentalists warn that drilling in this biodiverse region poses significant ecological risks.
Why it matters
The discovery highlights the ongoing tension between national economic development through fossil fuels and global climate change commitments.
Image source, @LulaOficial via EVN Image caption, Lula held up a vial containing oil found as part of the exploratory drilling
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has hailed the discovery of oil near the mouth of the Amazon river.
Speaking after the find was announced by Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras, he said it could be "a passport to the country's future".
His decision to allow exploratory drilling in the area known as the Brazilian Equatorial Margin was heavily criticised by environmentalists, who raised concerns that any potential oil spills could devastate its ecosystem.
Lula, who is running for another four-year term in elections scheduled for October, stressed that he was still committed to eventually phasing out fossil fuels to curb climate change.
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