Brazil's National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) conducted a contentious auction on June 17, 2025, offering 47 oil and gas exploration blocks in the Amazon River mouth region, an environmentally sensitive area considered a new frontier for fossil fuel exploitation. Nineteen of these blocks, covering 283,000 square kilometers in the states of Amapá and Pará, were awarded to major energy companies including Petrobras, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and China's CNPC. The auction raised approximately R$ 844 million (around $153 million) in signature bonuses, contributing to a total government revenue of nearly R$ 1 billion from the event. Despite environmental protests, the government views this as a strategic move to boost energy exploration.
Petrobras emerged as a leading participant, acquiring ten blocks in the Foz do Amazonas basin and three in the Pelotas basin. Concurrently, Petrobras signed contracts worth R$ 4.9 billion with Consag Engenharia to resume construction of the Abreu e Lima Refinery in Pernambuco, a project previously affected by the Lava Jato corruption investigation. Additionally, Petrobras announced plans to invest R$ 33 billion in refining and petrochemical projects in Rio de Janeiro through 2029, aiming to generate 38,000 jobs. The company also raised aviation kerosene prices by approximately 2.9% starting July 1, 2025, citing international oil price volatility. These developments reflect Petrobras's expanding role in Brazil's energy sector amid government efforts to balance economic growth and environmental concerns.