The country’s maritime commerce is expanding, and its offshore activities are intensifying. This is evolving a situation where India’s coastal ecosystems that span the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and regional waterways are facing looming challenges from climate-driven extreme weather and deeper offshore operations. Set against this backdrop, the 8th Oil Spill India (OSI) will be held on October 6-7 in New Delhi.

Organised by The Energy & Climate Initiatives Society (ENCIS) and co-organised by ITEN Media Pvt Ltd, the theme for the 2026 edition will be ‘Coastal Guardians: Future-Proofing India’s Waters in an Era of Emerging Risks’, which aims to explore deeper into the complex interplay between maritime development, environmental sustainability and risk mitigation.

Informs Abhishek Bhatnagar, Director General, ENCIS, “This year’s theme highlights the urgent need for India and the wider region to adopt an anticipatory, coordinated, and technology-driven approach to spill management. As maritime infrastructure expands and offshore energy activities accelerate, it is vital to strengthen the resilience of our coastal ecosystems.”

“Over the past 15 years, this conference has emerged as a truly global platform, convening government bodies, industry pioneers, maritime authorities, researchers and NGOs”

According to the organisers, the two-day conference-cum-exhibition will bring the spotlight on four critical pillars. First, prevention and planning, which will emphasise real-time surveillance equipped with AI analytics for early leak detection, besides sea-based decarbonisation efforts aligned with India’s Net Zero ambition. Second, preparedness and response, which will draw lessons from global incidents to show the next-generation containment systems, bioremediation techniques and rapid mobilisation frameworks tailored for regional waters.

Third, restoration and resilience, which will engage with practitioners dedicated to mangrove regeneration, coral reef restoration and community rehabilitation, are integral to sustaining livelihoods. Fourth, collaboration and governance, which will reinforce frameworks that unite national enforcement agencies with private sector innovation, and integrate indigenous knowledge for an Indian approach to spill disaster resilience.

With foundational leadership from the Indian Coast Guard and ONGC Ltd, OSI has evolved into “one of the world’s” leading forums dedicated to spill prevention, planning, preparedness, response, and restoration since its inception in 2011.

“Over the past 15 years and seven editions, this conference has emerged as a truly global platform, convening government bodies, industry pioneers, maritime authorities, researchers and NGOs to collectively address the complex challenges of oil spill management,” says Bhatnagar. “This year’s conference will bring together international research institutions, innovative start-ups, regional policy-makers and frontline response teams to foster dialogue, share cutting-edge practices and build regional resilience,” he adds.

The conference is designed as a strategic confluence of high-level plenaries, technical sessions, roundtables, and knowledge-sharing initiatives that address the evolving risk landscape, from operational best practices to strategic response mechanisms, he further adds.

“The 2026 edition of the awards will recognise those who are leading from the front to protect the marine ecosystems of India and the wider Indo-Pacific region”

Concurrently, the Oil Spill India 2026 Exhibition will be held, which will feature a “comprehensive” line-up of the latest solutions, innovations and services across the spill response ecosystem. The exhibition will provide a platform for global and regional companies to demonstrate capabilities, launch products, network with key decision-makers and explore business opportunities in India’s evolving environmental and maritime sectors.

Organisers say that the exhibition will offer visitors an immersive view into the future of spill risk management and environmental protection. On showcase will be “cutting-edge” spill detection tools, containment and recovery equipment, remediation technologies, clean-up solutions, data platforms, drone-based surveillance, skimmers, dispersants, and AI-powered modelling systems.

Alongside, Oil Spill India – Blue Planet Awards 2026 will be one of the key attractions. The awards will celebrate outstanding achievements in oil spill prevention, preparedness, response, restoration and sustainability leadership. “The 2026 edition of the awards will recognise those who are leading from the front to protect the marine ecosystems of India and the wider Indo-Pacific region. At a time when maritime risks are intensifying due to climate extremes, increasing sea traffic, and exploration in ecologically sensitive zones, the awards will honour those who not only respond to crises but also prevent them.” ENERGDIVE Insights and Market Intelligence is the official host publication of 8th Oil Spill.