Brasilia, 4 Dec (EFE).-the enormous oil wealth that Brazil has been found in deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the country become the “third largest polluter of the world”, according to a study by Greenpeace published today by the newspaper “O Globo”.
“Brazil, which is in the sixth position, becomes the third among the big polluters in the world, behind United States and China”, says environmentalist group, which based its forecast on emissions which will generate the exploitation of crude oil in the underwater areas of the so-called presal.
According to estimates by Greenpeace, operations in the new oil in the waters of the Atlantic horizon launched into the atmosphere 955,82 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2 equivalent) and may have “disastrous consequences” for the environment.
“At a time when there is a global effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuels Brazil sees its oil reserves as the shortcut faster economic and social development”, “O Globo” declares the Greenpeace spokesman in the country, Sergio Leitao.
The activist says that the consequences are already felt, with the recent spill occurred at a site the American company Chevron operated in the field of Frade in deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.
Chevron estimated that 2,400 barrels of crude, spilled into the sea although Rio de Janeiro authorities believe that they could be about 15,000 barrels.
Beyond the spill and its consequences, Leitao says that, according to estimates by Greenpeace, only the emissions of gaseous pollutants in the pit reached 10.6 million tons of carbon dioxide between last August and September 2010. EFE
