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Updated: 18/06/2025 - 11:32 GMT+2
Indigenous groups and environmental activists rallied in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday as Brazil auctioned off oil blocks near the ecologically sensitive Amazon River mouth.
The National Oil Agency hosted the auction at a luxury hotel, selling 19 offshore blocks in the region to major firms including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Petrobras, and China’s CNPC.
In total, 172 blocks were offered, many of which are located in untouched areas close to Indigenous lands and vital biomes.
Protesters condemned the auction’s environmental and human rights risks, with leaders citing threats to traditional communities.
The government insists the move aligns with a low-carbon energy transition, despite oil now being Brazil’s top export, overtaking soybeans.
