API Signs MOU with Russian Federal Agency to Further Safety and Environmental Protection in Oil and Gas through Global Adoption of Industry Standards

MOSCOW – August 28, 2019 – Today, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Russian Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology (Rosstandart) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the exchange of ideas around standardization of practices to promote safety and sustainability in the oil and natural gas sector.

“API is the global leader in convening subject matter experts to establish, maintain, implement, and distribute standards for the oil and gas industry.  This MOU will further safe and sustainable operations across the globe for our industry,” said Debra Phillips, Vice President of API’s Global Industry Services division.

“Russia and the USA have a great potential for expanding cooperation in the field of standardization. Russian and American specialists will get an opportunity to work together in modern standards developing for oil and gas industry. The MOU will encourage dissemination of recognized industry standards and participation of Russian experts in their development processes,” noted Alexey Abramov, Head of the Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology.

The signed MOU formalizes the capacity building and exchange of information objectives between the two organizations.  Specifically, the MOU aims to promote:

• Collaboration on joint forums, workshops and meetings, and the development of training programs and seminars that increase the level of knowledge within the API and Rosstandart expert community
• Participation of Russian and American experts on discussions around standardizing practices and procedures, such as API standards, to further shared goals of safe and sustainable oil and gas operations
• Implementation of API standards in Russian operations and participation of Russian experts in training opportunities for oil and gas employees

According to the International Energy Association, as of 2017, the United States and Russia are number one and number three, respectively, producers of total petroleum and other liquids production for the world’s energy sources.

API acknowledges that there are sanctions specific to the oil and gas sector in Russia and will ensure compliance with those sanctions and applicable laws.

API standards are developed under API’s American National Standards Institute accredited process, ensuring that the API standards are recognized not only for their technical rigor but also their third-party accreditation which facilitates acceptance by state, federal, and increasingly international regulators. API’s GIS division is responsible for standards setting, certification, training, events, publications and safety programs for industry operations.

API represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Our more than 600 members produce, process and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry supports more than ten million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization. In our first 100 years, API has developed more than 700 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.

Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology (Rosstandart) is the federal executive body of the Russian Federation, responsible for the implementation of policies through the Ministry of Industry and Trade within its competence. It performs inter-industry coordination and functional regulating in the fields of standardization and metrology. Rosstandart also holds the function of National Standards Body in the Russian Federation and represents Russia in international (and regional) organizations for standardization.