The American Petroleum Institute (API) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) for a collaboration upon enhancing industry standards, the Institute informed this Thursday.
Promotion of safety, enhancing reliability and environmental protection are the main goals of the MOU. It will provide a platform for collaboration in a number of fronts. According to the Institute’s statement, those include: the implementation of API standards upon all industry sectors of Azerbaijan’s market.
Also, the participation of Azerbaijan in API’s programs, such as the Process Safety Site Assessment Program (PSSAP®), the Pipeline Safety Management System (SMS), and the Third-Party Assessment Program. With all this integration, API would certify Azerbaijan’s business units with the Institue’s Quality Management Systems.
“Intitue’s standards are developed under an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited process, ensuring that the Institue’s standards are not only technically rigorous, but also are developed using consensus, due process and balance across stakeholder interests,” the Institute’s statement explains.
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First agreement between API and SOCAR
Because of API’s and ANSI’s high standards, they also serve as state, federal and international regulators. Since the Institue’s inception in 1919, it has structured more than 700 standards for the industry, on operational, environmental safety, as well as efficiency and sustainability.
SOCAR, on the other hand, is an integrated natural gas and oil company. It conducts exploration, production and transportation of hydrocarbons all along the Caspian Sea; it operates in both domestic and international markets.
About the signing of the MOU, Debra Phillips, senior VP for API’s Global Industry Services, said. “We welcome the signing of today’s MOU with SOCAR; bringing together our two organizations to develop standards in pursuit of our shared goals of safety and environmental protection.”
“Today’s signing marks the first MOU between American Petroleum Institute and SOCAR; playing a key role in connecting two major natural gas and oil markets to advance industry performance globally,” she concluded.
