In 2013 a consortium of Brazilian companies won licences to explore for gas in four onshore 'blocs' in Parana state. The consortium plans on conducting investigations to determine whether fracking is a necessary and appropriate technique to extract unconventional natural gas in the blocs located in the Parana basin. |
| Name of conflict: | Fracking in the Parana Basin, Brazil |
| Country: | Brazil |
| State or province: | Parana |
| Location of conflict: | Cascavel and Toledo (two different towns) |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Fossil Fuels and Climate Justice/Energy |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Shale gas fracking |
| Specific commodities: | Natural Gas |
| Project details | The consortium plans to conduct a four-year study to determine whether fracking is required and whether it would be economically viable to use this method to extract natural gas. Information has not been released about the potential quantities of natural gas present in the Parana basin. |
| Level of Investment for the conflictive project | 66,120,000.00 |
| Type of population | Semi-urban |
| Affected Population: | 428, 117 |
| Start of the conflict: | 03/06/2014 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Paraná Gás Exploração e Produção from Brazil Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL) from Brazil - COPEL has a 30% stake in the consortium. Bayar Empreendimentos e Participações Ltda from Brazil - 30% stake in consortium Petra Energia from Brazil - 30% stake in consortium Tucumann Engenharia e Empreendimentos (TUCUMANN) from Brazil - 10% stake in consortium |
| Relevant government actors: | The National Petroleum Agency (Agencia Nacional de Petroleo - ANP) - responsible for selling licences to explore. A Associacao de Camaras de Vereadores do Oeste do Parana (Acamop) - The Association of City Councils of the West of Parana. Acamop has been bringing attention to the fracking issue since the beginning of 2014. Acamop set up a petition against fracking in February 2014, which it plans to take to the federal government in the country’s capital, Brasilia. O Ministerio Publico Federal - the Federal Public Ministry. |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Coletivo Cascavel Livre de Fracking (Cascavel Free From Fracking Collective) - opposition group made up of local residents. www.facebook.com/hashtag/coletivocascavellivredefracking |
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Women Local scientists/professionals Religious groups |
| Forms of mobilization: | Development of a network/collective action Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Objections to the EIA Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Referendum other local consultations Street protest/marches |
| Environmental Impacts | Potential: Air pollution, Food insecurity (crop damage), Global warming, Soil contamination, Waste overflow, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems |
| Health Impacts | Potential: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…) |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Potential: Loss of livelihood, Other socio-economic impacts |
| Other socio-economic impacts | There is a serious risk to the sustainability of Parana’s agriculture if water sources and soil are contaminated, which would cause a huge blow to the state’s economy. Parana ranks in the top five producing states in Brazil for soybeans, corn, sugarcane, cattle, pork and chicken and also produces wheat, rice, cotton and beans. Explosions in the sub-soil - otherwise known as seismic shocks - caused by the fracturing of the rock, could cause damage to the structure and foundations of buildings and could lead to a reduction in house prices. |
| Project Status | Proposed (exploration phase) |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Court decision (victory for environmental justice) New legislation |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | Following a public street protest on 5th June 2014, the Federal Public Ministry (Ministerio Publico Federal –MPF) initiated a civil action to suspend the licences awarded to the consortium and other companies in the region. On 26th August 2014, Cascavel municipal council introduced a law (law no. 101/2014) to ban the concession of licences for fracking in the municipality (10). The law is awaiting sanction by the mayor. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
| Briefly explain: | Until the law is officially sanctioned by the mayor it cannot be said that a success has been achieved. Even then, environmental justice will only have been served in the Cascavel municipality and not in Toledo, which is also at a serious risk from fracking. |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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| Other documents |
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| Contributor: | Rhia Weston |
| Last update | 05/02/2015 |
| Conflict ID: | 1597 |