Sao Paulo - The Brazilian authorities have imposed the maximum fine allowed for an environmental crime on the state-owned oil company following a major oil spill off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Nicole Veash reports. Petrobras will have to pay $28 million for the accident, which occurred last Tuesday, when more than 1,000 tonnes of oil leaked from an underwater pipeline.
The picturesque Guanabara Bay was worst hit and officials say the spill is having a devastating effect on the environmentally sensitive coastline.