Their origin remains mysterious. Since the beginning of September, oil slabs have appeared regularly on the northeastern coast of Brazil. At least 2,000 km of coastline, more than 130 beaches, have been soiled.
According to the Minister of the Environment, "more than 100 tons of oil" have already been removed from affected sites.
Petrobras, the state oil company, assures that this hydrocarbon is not his. For President Jair Bolsonaro, the spill of this oil could also be intentional. "We have a country on our radar that could be the source of this oil and we continue to work in the best possible way," he said.
Already criticized for its lack of eagerness to fight fires in the Amazon, the Brazilian government is again accused of having taken time to react.
For environmental defenders, this oil pollution is likely to have a significant impact on the coastal ecosystems. On the economic level, this "ecological disaster" will also have consequences. Renowned for its beaches, the northeast of Brazil draws most of its revenue from tourism.