Brazil asks for clarifications from 11 countries over source of oil

The federal government sent notifications to 11 countries requesting clarifications over the 30 countries mapped as part of the probes into the source of the oil spills that reached a number of beaches in the Brazilian Northeast, the coordinator for operations with the Brazilian Navy, iral Leonardo Puntel, told the press Saturday (Oct 26).

The investigation was conducted by the navy and based on the hypothesis that a tanker may be able. The initial probes assessed 1,500 vessels and narrowed it down to 30 from 11 countries. The commandant did not specify which nations make up the group, but said the requirement asks for explanations from the governments in order to ascertain whether they are aware of any relevant incidents.

The 30 ships that have been somewhere on the Northeastern coast in the period, identified as having made through maritime systems. The investigators, Puntel said, estimate that the spill took place in August, with oil reaching the beaches later that month.

The iral did not rule out the possibility that the incident may have been caused by non-official vessels, termed “dark ships.” In this case, however, the investigation should become more complex and include other sources of information, like satellite imaging.

Puntel stated it is not possible to state that the vessel was Venezuelan. But studies by Petrobras are said to have identified the oil as having come from the neighboring country. “A report by the navy concluded that the oil was not Brazilian. Petrobras’s report went beyond, because they have oil samples from other countries. It’s from Venezuelan basins. We’re still not sure about the ship,” he pointed out.

Spills

Fernanda Pirilo, coordinator-general for Environemtnal Emergencies with the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), said during a press conference that no new oil has been spotted on the beaches.

“There’ no new oil coming, but some beaches still have signs of oil; we have the spots where there’s still residual oil, mostly in the states of Pernambuco and Bahia,” she reported.

Another 900 tons of crude oil has been reported as removed from the beaches by Thursday (24).