"The left that opposes the Equatorial Margin serves imperialism," says Rui Costa Pimenta.

247 - The president of the Workers' Cause Party (PCO), Rui Costa Pimenta, defended oil exploration in the Equatorial Margin, criticizing sectors of the left that oppose the project. In an interview with TV 247Pimenta stated that resistance to oil research and exploration in the region serves the interests of imperialism and hinders national development.

“I would like those who oppose oil exploration in the Equatorial Margin to show which country in the world has refused to explore for and exploit oil within its own territory. I have never heard of anything like it,” he declared. He compared the situation to “burning money on your stove at home,” highlighting that while Brazil is engaged in a debate about exploration, other countries are advancing in the production and utilization of energy resources.

According to Pimenta, the claim that the exploration would harm the environment is unfounded. He highlighted that the exploration blocks are more than 500 kilometers from the mouth of the Amazon River, and that the history of oil exploration in Brazil has always faced opposition from foreign interests. “Imperialism has always fought against Brazilian national development. In the beginning, they said that Brazil had no oil. Now that the opposite has been proven, the attempt is to prevent exploration,” he criticized.

According to him, hindering the advancement of oil exploration is part of a larger blockade to Brazil's development. "They don't want Brazil to build railroads, they don't want Brazil to have hydroelectric dams, and now they're trying to block oil production. The country is completely blocked," he stated.

Pimenta also criticized the federal government's stance, which he considers hostage to sectors opposed to the advancement of energy exploration in Brazil. According to him, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has already positioned himself in favor of exploration, but faces resistance within his own government. "Lula wants to explore the oil in the Equatorial Margin, but he put a crazy woman in the ministry, Marina Silva, financed by international NGOs," he stated.

The PCO leader also argued that the exploration could directly benefit the Brazilian population. “The riverside communities are impoverished. If you explore for oil, you have the potential to improve the lives of these people. But it has become the norm that no one can be displaced from where they are, regardless of their circumstances,” he said.

Pimenta also referred to Petrobras, warning of the risk of privatizing the company and criticizing the distribution of profits to foreign shareholders. “Petrobras was created by Brazilians and not to generate profits for foreign shareholders. Brazil is one of the world's largest oil producers and could become even larger if it weren't for the obstacles imposed by imperialism,” he argued.

Throughout the interview, Rui Costa Pimenta reinforced the need for a more incisive stance from the left in defense of national development and Brazilian sovereignty in the energy sector. "The PT has already handed over the democratic struggle to the Bolsonaro supporters. Now, will they also hand over national development?" he questioned. Watch: