Crude Accountability (CA) is a nonprofit that works with communities in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions to address environmental, human rights, and health issues related to oil and gas development. With regional and international partners, CA also seeks to elevate global awareness of these concerns.

Founding and History

Crude Accountability was founded in March 2003 by seven environmental activists who worked together on an environmental program within the Caspian Sea region. Their primary focus was preserving the natural environment of the surrounding areas, and other communities affected by natural resource development. ¹ Kate Watters is a co-founder and has served as the executive director for over twenty years. ²

Program Areas

Environmental Monitoring and Accountability

Crude Accountability engages in monitoring programs in Azerbaijan analyzing the effects of the development of the Shah Deniz and ACG petroleum fields and their effect on the environment and local communities. Through on-the-ground as well as satellite research, CA engages in environmental monitoring of resource developments and the financial institutions which supports these projects. ³ CA received $143,744 in funding for this project while spending $86,142. ⁴

Monitoring of Chinese Investments in Central Asia’s Oil and Gas Sector

CA studies investments made by Chinese oil and gas corporations and their effects on the communities that surround the areas impacted by those investments. The data collected by these studies is shared with international nongovernmental organizations. ⁵ To document this project, CA produced a film and held seminars, workshops, and virtual meetings. CA received $135,000 in funding for this project, while spending $65,209. ⁶

Prove They Are Alive! Campaign

CA is a founding member of the “Prove They Are Alive!” campaign, an international campaign that investigates the government of Turkmenistan and its prison system. Since 2013, CA has worked with organizations to research disappearances of prisoners within Turkmenistan. ^{7 8} Overall, CA received $135,000 in funding for this project, while spending $156,775. ⁹

Miscellaneous Projects

CA has worked with environmental activists in Russia to provide them with training and education. CA received $30,000 in funding for this project, while spending $47,432. ¹⁰ In 2020, CA organized a virtual environmental exchange program for young activists in the United States and the post-Soviet states. ¹¹ They received $25,000 for this project and did not spend any money. CA received $17,959 in general support from donors to address issues as needed, while spending $18,442 of those funds. ¹²

Judicial Activism

On June 6, 2013, CA filed a complaint against Karachaganak Petroleum Operating, B.V (KPO) Consortium, comprised of British Gas, ENI, Chevron, Lukoil, and Kazmunaigaz, citing these companies for environmental and human rights violations. All parties agreed to mediation on June 17, 2014; however, the parties were not able to reach agreement. ¹³

Funding

From 2006 to 2017, Sigrid Rausing Trust has donated over £320,000 (about $40,000) to CA. ¹⁴ In 2019, RSF Social Finance Inc., donated $35,000 to CA for general operational support. ¹⁵ In 2020, CA donated $46,000 to activist groups in Russia and the Newly Independent States. ¹⁶

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2. jimbabwe. 2012. “Staff & Board -.” September 29, 2012. https://crudeaccountability.org/mission/staff-board/
3. Review of Crude Accountability Incorporated. n.d. CauseIQ. Accessed February 24, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/crude-accountability-incorporated,562328811/programs.
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Crude Accountability Incoporated . 2020. Extracted by ProPublica. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/562328811/202111329349301991/full
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Crude Accountability Incoporated . 2020. Extracted by ProPublica. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/562328811/202111329349301991/full
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9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Crude Accountability Incoporated . 2020. Extracted by ProPublica. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/562328811/202111329349301991/full
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Crude Accountability Incoporated . 2020. Extracted by ProPublica. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/562328811/202111329349301991/full
11. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Crude Accountability Incoporated . 2020. Extracted by ProPublica. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/562328811/202111329349301991/full
12.  Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Crude Accountability Incoporated . 2020. Extracted by ProPublica. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/562328811/202111329349301991/full
13. “Crude Accountability et Al. Vs. ENI.” OECD Watch. Accessed March 15, 2023. https://www.oecdwatch.org/complaint/crude-accountability-et-al-vs-eni/.
14. “Crude Accountability.” n.d. The Sigrid Rausing Trust. Accessed March 15, 2023. https://www.sigrid-rausing-trust.org/grantee/crude-accountability/.
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