Crude Accountability

The newest piece by Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu with Crude Accountability, "Azerbaijan’s Energy Paradox: Fossil Fuel Expansion vs. Green Commitments" looks at how Azerbaijan’s aims to increase production in its oil sector contradict its renewable energy commitments. Though Azerbaijan has taken steps towards implementing green energy projects, such as offshore wind development, solar power plants, and hydropower operations, the oil-dependent country plans to increase gas exports to the EU to counter production decline. Dr. Ibadoghlu, a renowned Azerbaijani scholar of political economy and anti-corruption activist, is known for exposing corruption in Azerbaijan’s oil and gas industry. He is currently under house arrest in Baku and denied critical medical treatment. His work in this latest blog entry explores the environmental impact of Azerbaijan’s fossil fuel production with its alarming levels of green house gas emissions, and calls out the petro-state’s lack of a clear green energy transition. We continue to call on the government of Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Ibadoghlu. Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/gNujzXft

Today, Crude Accountability is 22 years old! Now more than ever, we are committed to our founding principles of transparency, cooperation, and scientific inquiry to ensure human rights of all people, including the right to a clean environment, underlie the foundation of society. Thank you for supporting our mission in the Caspian and Black Sea regions and beyond.

In tandem with our latest report, "Russia's Shadow Fleet," we launched an interactive webpage tracking the rogue ships that collude with the?Russian oil trade. Our map exposes not only the movement of the "shadow fleet" but the holes in the international sanctions regime. Explore the map: https://lnkd.in/g5U7d-F8

The latest blog entry by Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu with Crude Accountability, "Azerbaijani Gas Exports to Europe via Ukraine: Reality or Illusion?" examines Azerbaijan's limited ability and lack of capacity to replace Russian gas in European markets. Despite the talks at Davos between President Zelenskyy and President Aliyev on the use of Ukraine's infrastructure to deliver Azerbaijani gas to Europe, Azerbaijan faces three challenges: 1) lack of free commodity gas supply for sales 2) disintegration of Ukrainian transportation infrastructure, 3) lack of triple contract negotiations, and consent among stakeholders. Dr. Ibadoghlu, a renowned Azerbaijani scholar of political economy and anti-corruption activist, is known for exposing corruption in Azerbaijan’s oil and gas industry. He is currently under house arrest in Baku and denied critical medical treatment. His analysis in this blog post draws attention to energy transition and security, particularly Azerbaijan's limited energy resources and transportation capacity to replace Russian gas in the European market. We continue to call on the government of Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Ibadoghlu. Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/grU97vZi

Today’s spotlight falls on the Gea. Between July 2022 and May 2023, the Gea transported and transferred Russian oil products from Taman and Tuapse to EU waters, particularly within the Laconian Gulf of Greece. The tanker also maintained its Western insurance (Assuranceforeningen Skuld) and classification certificate (Bureau Veritas), and retained ownership by an EU company; thus, potentially violating sanctions against the Russian Federation. Read more about the Gea: https://lnkd.in/gXAN62DV (Image: Marinetraffic.com / Sinisa Aljinovic)

Adding to our list of rogue ships part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” is the Eco Beverly Hills. Between October 2022 and July 2023, the Eco Beverly Hills acquired Russian oil products from the ports of Ust Luga and Novorossiysk 6 times and entered 5 EU ports. On May 16th, 2023, the Eco Beverly Hills disappeared off tracking for 2 days near the coast of Israel. It is unclear if the ship’s AIS tracker was intentionally turned off and what the ship's intended destination was. Read more about the Eco Beverly Hills: https://lnkd.in/gXAN62DV (Image: Marinetraffic.com / Raimo Makinen)

On February 14, the Save The Caspian Sea campaign held its second roundtable, You.Sea.Problem, in Astana, Kazakhstan, to address the environmental crisis in the Caspian Sea basin. Our Executive Director, Kate Watters, spoke about the current destruction of the Caspian Sea’s ecosystem by big oil and highlighted the proven strength of community-led efforts to protect the region. Watch the full video address on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gvY65u8u

“Ecocide is absolutely an appropriate term for what’s happening in the Caspian region and we need to act now.” Our Executive Director, Kate Watters, is featured in a new documentary by Save The Caspian Sea, speaking on Crude Accountability’s projects on Karachaganak and Berezovka, and the new grassroots movement to protect the Caspian Sea from big oil. Watch the film on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gFs8dEr9??

We now turn the spotlight to the Delta Spirit. The Delta Spirit acquired oil products from the Russian port of Novorossiysk, and entered the Dutch, and EU, port of Rotterdam in November 2023. The tanker also maintained its Norwegian-based insurance, Assuranceforeningen Gard. Considering the Delta Spirit’s entry into an EU port, the retention of its Western-based insurance, and the registration of its beneficial owner, the tanker may have violated sanctions against the Russian Federation should it have sold its contents over the established $60 per barrel limit. Read more about the Delta Spirit: https://lnkd.in/gXAN62DV (Image: Marinetraffic.com / Manuel Hernández)