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The oil slabs, which began to appear in early September, have been spotted at least 2000 km along the Brazilian Atlantic coast. REUTERS / Alisson Frazao

In Venezuela, the PDVSA, the state oil company, denies being at the origin of the mysterious oil spill that affects the northeast of Brazil. On Wednesday, the Brazilian Minister of the Environment said that the oil that has stained 130 beaches of the country is " very likely " of Venezuelan origin. " An unfounded accusation " according to Caracas who claims to have been informed of any incident, neither on its tankers nor in its offshore fields.

With our correspondent in Caracas , Benjamin Delille

In its statement, the PDVSA says it rejects "categorically" the accusations of the Brazilian Minister of the Environment. Wednesday, Ricardo Salles assured before a parliamentary commission that the oil in question came, " very probably " from Venezuela. He relied on a report by Petrobras, the Brazilian oil company, according to which the samples collected on the beaches have " similarities with Venezuelan oil ".

These oil cakes began to appear in early September. They affected nine Brazilian states and the equivalent of 2000 km of coastline. The investigation is currently focused on all tankers that have sailed near the Brazilian coast recently.

But the PDVSA says it has not received any reports of damage from its tankers or those of its customers in the area. She added that " there is no evidence of any oil spill on Venezuelan oil fields " as suggested by the Brazilian authorities.

However, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is certain, it is " a criminal act ", and he says he has no doubt about the country to maneuver.

It should be noted that Venezuela is also accused by Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno of fomenting the current unrest in the country. Seven governments, including Brazil, supported him by accusing Caracas of doing everything to " destabilize democratic governments " in the region.