In the backdrop of the recent oil spill incident, caused during cyclone Michaung in Chennai's Ennore Creek, it is with a sense of urgency and shared responsibility that we announce that the 7^th edition of Oil Spill India (OSI 2024), the region’s flagship conference & exhibition on the Oil Spill Prevention, Planning, Preparedness, Response & Restoration industry, will be organised during 11^th & 12^th September 2024 at Hotel JW Marriott, Aerocity, New Delhi, India.

While we will convene to address the critical issue of oil spills, we today are once again at a crucial juncture where the intersection of environmental conservation, economic development, and community well-being demands our collective attention.

India, with its diverse ecosystems and vibrant coastal regions, is not only blessed with natural beauty but is also faced with the challenge of protecting and preserving these invaluable assets. The occurrence of such oil spill incidents poses a significant threat to our marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of communities dependent on the ocean for sustenance.

The rise in population, rapid urbanization and industrialization within high-risk zones, environmental degradation and climate change, further aggravates its vulnerabilities to various kinds of disasters. With rapid economic development, human-induced hazards arising from accidents (industrial, road, rail, on river or sea, fires, mine flooding, oil spills etc) including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) hazards, also heighten the vulnerabilities to disaster risks.

A coastline of over 11555 kilometres (Indian subcontinent) with extensive maritime activities across the region, exponential increase in maritime trade, exploration activities coupled with the large quantum of liquid bulk cargo including Crude, Petroleum & Chemical products handled at the ports; further necessitates balancing development whilst ensuring a sustainable environment.

Environment sustainability thus remains one of the biggest concerns, challenges & obligation faced by the global oil & gas and maritime industries today. It is of even more significance in Indian subcontinent considering it's coastline and marine ecosystems support the livelihood of hundreds of million people, contributes to the regional economy through flourishing industries like tourism, shipping, fisheries & energy, whilst being the foundation of its distinct flora & fauna.

As we deliberate on the challenges posed by oil spills, let us not forget that this is not merely an environmental issue; it is a shared responsibility that requires a holistic and inclusive approach. The decisions we make today will resonate for generations to come, influencing the health of our oceans, the prosperity of our communities, and the overall well-being of our nation.

In context of the above, the significance of Oil Spill India (OSI 2024) – International Conference & Exhibition cannot be overstated. Since 2011, OSI has been a global industry forum to deliberate & strengthen the collaborative frameworks for prevention of spill incidents whilst finding solutions for greater challenges including effective response & mitigation mechanisms for spill disasters.

A confluence of great minds, the forum provides an opportunity to comprehensively review policy frameworks, global trends, disruptive innovations, recent case studies, OSR preparedness, including methodologies, techniques and models used for combating spills of any kind or source.

Correspondingly, new strategies and a decision support framework are recommended to reduce risks, enhancing capabilities, foster collaboration, optimizing outcomes and achieve sustainable spill disaster resilience in Indian subcontinent region.

Join us to ensure our our collaborations are enduring, and our commitment to safeguarding India's coastal ecosystems are unwavering. Together, let us chart a course towards a sustainable and resilient future.

Join us to emerge safe, agile & sustainable!!