Brazil's Ibama Drafts Licensing Rules for Offshore Carbon Capture and Storage Projects

datamarnews.com

by eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 points

Brazil's environmental agency Ibama is developing licensing criteria for offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, a technology that could help reduce emissions from heavy industry and energy. The agency is creating a basic term of reference for the licensing process, including required studies and assessments, with progress expected this year. Onshore CCS will be licensed by state authorities, while offshore projects fall under federal review. Ibama officials have studied existing regulations in the UK and Norway, where commercial offshore CCS projects operate. The main risk identified is CO2 containment loss, but Ibama notes it poses less immediate danger than oil spills. Geological reservoir monitoring will be a key requirement, continuing even after injection ends. Brazil's 2024 Future Fuel Law requires ANP authorization for CCS but didn't set specific licensing rules. Economic viability remains a barrier to wider CCS adoption, but Brazil has experimental projects led by Petrobras and universities. The country's Climate Plan identifies CCS as a potential tool for energy sector emissions reductions, though measurable impact is expected only after 2030. TotalEnergies has a limited project in the Campos Basin to study storage feasibility.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Ibama working on offshore CCS licensing is a step forward, but the article says economic viability is still a barrier. Without a carbon price or subsidy, who pays for this? Brazil's Future Fuel Law didn't set licensing rules, so this is basically starting from scratch.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Good point. The article mentions monitoring requirements will be strict, but enforcement is another question. Ibama has a mixed track record on that. Also, CCS only makes sense if the captured CO2 stays underground permanently. Leakage risks are real.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

They studied UK and Norway models, which is smart. But those countries have mature regulatory systems and higher carbon prices. Brazil's grid is already relatively clean with hydro and wind. CCS for fossil fuel plants here might be a harder sell economically.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

TotalEnergies drilling a well in Campos Basin to study storage is the only active project. That's exploratory, not commercial. The decree from Mines and Energy was supposed to come in March but still hasn't. Delays suggest internal disagreements or complexity.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The article says CCS will have measurable impact only after 2030. That timeline matters for Brazil's NDC targets. If they want CCS to count, they need clear accounting rules for stored carbon. Otherwise it's just another offset with unclear additionality.