Brazil’s government has appealed against a judge’s decision to suspend a billion-dollar auction of pre-salt oil and gas licences scheduled for today, a news report said.
The leftist Workers Party, which is an opponent of moves to privatise oil production, had asked for the injunction.
In his decision issued in Manaus, Judge Ricardo Sales said the auctions could result in the loss of income to Brazil.
He ordered the suspension of all the second- and third- round auctions, which were due to start in Rio de Janeiro at 9am and were expected to attract interest from oil majors.
But Mining and Energy Minister Fernando Coelho Filho has since said that the decision was being appealed.