May 13, 2021

Global standards organization ASTM International and the American Petroleum Institute (API) today announced a partnership on a project aimed at harmonizing petroleum standards in the West African region, with impact in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. The three-year project is supported by the USAID Standards Alliance and managed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

"We are pleased to work with API and African stakeholders to support streamlined petroleum standards," ASTM International Vice President of Global Cooperation Teresa Cendrowska said. “These harmonization efforts will promote consistency and facilitate compliance in the West African Region.”

Funded by USAID, the Standards Alliance program supports the capacity of developing countries in the areas of legal and regulatory frameworks, standards development, conformity assessment procedures, and private sector engagement. Standards compliance becomes complex when companies must comply with a patchwork of international or local standards. Harmonizing regional standards will allow manufacturers, suppliers and conformity assessment bodies to demonstrate that products, services or processes comply with relevant legislation, while facilitating the delivery of safe and quality products to consumers. 

“The steps we are taking today with ASTM International will assist our ongoing efforts to promote industry safety and sustainability standards around the world, while supporting the Standards Alliance’s important work on harmonization,” API Vice President for Segment Standards and Services Alexa Burr said. “We are thankful for ASTM’s work in helping to establish this partnership and look forward to working together on streamlining petroleum standards in West Africa.”

The standards harmonization project follows a 2019 Standards Alliance training on international petroleum standards and management systems. The training allowed participants to discuss international best practices for petroleum, as well as environmental and economic challenges of the West African region.

About ANSI
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations.

The Institute represents and serves the diverse interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide. ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For more information, visit www.ansi.org.

About API
API represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, which supports more than ten million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Our 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 700 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.

About ASTM International
Committed to serving global societal needs, ASTM International positively impacts public health and safety, consumer confidence, and overall quality of life. We integrate consensus standards – developed with our international membership of volunteer technical experts – and innovative services to improve lives… Helping our world work better. 

ASTM Media Contact: Jaime Martorana, tel +1.610.832.9796; jmartorana@astm.org
API Media Contact: Jessica Moak, tel +1.202.682.8114; press@api.org 

Release #11230

###