A geopolítica do petróleo e seus reflexos para MB: A participação da Marinha do Brasil na preservação do meio ambiente na Amazônia Azul no contexto do Plano Nacional de Contingência para Incidentes de Poluição por Óleo em Águas sob Jurisdição Nacional

Abstract

The oil geopolitics is a set of principles that studies the relationship between the oil producer States and oil consumer States in looking for a better position in the competition for this raw material that still being the main source of energy worldwide, including political, economic, environmental and defense issues.Brazil has, in recent decades, its entering on the global context as a major producer and a major consumer of oil in the world. Its oil basinsareprimarily found in the sea. These basinsare enrolled in what was called by Admiral Guimarães Carvalho, as the Amazônia Azul, an area rich in natural resources, but still unknown by most Brazilians. However, along with the existing wealth comes responsibility and caring for the environment, greater equity and without which all wealth will be lost.Brazil depends on the sea for various activities related to the country's economics development, among which we can highlight navigation, foreign trade, fishing, exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the soil and subsoil, and activities related with sports and recreation. In the case of the seabed, the oil is synonymous with great wealth, but also with a huge potential for pollution due to the risks inherent in their operation, which spill accidents are not rare. If these accidents happen, the damage can be quite large and often irreversible. This leads to the need for standardized actions in order to mitigate the consequences of such spills. In cases of major accidents, they may require governmental involvement both to ensure an adequate response action to optimize the resources and personnel in emergency triggered. In these cases, it is necessary the existence of a National Contingency Plan. The Brazilian National Contingency Plan for oil spill at sea has not been approved yet, showingdisregard forenvironmental issuesby thefederal government and, therefore, can not be used in cases of major emergencies that may occur in the Brazilian Jurisdictional Waters.The neglect of environmental issues can lead the country to challenges in international forums such as the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization, about Brazil's ability to manage its natural resources, thereby creating vulnerabilities for the country on the geopolitical scene. In this sense the Brazilian Navy, concerned with issues related to environmental conservation on Amazonia Azul, in the context of integration with the global oil geopolitics, has been seeking to actively participate in the development of the Brazilian National Contingency Plan, in order to minimize these potential vulnerabilities.