Updates from the Ipieca-IMO Global Initiative H1 2026

What is the Global Initiative?

Launched in 1996 The Global Initiative (GI) is a partnership programme between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Ipieca. It assists governments, through IMO, and the oil and gas industry, through Ipieca, to work together to assist countries in strengthening national structures and capacity for oil spill preparedness and response.

The GI spans three regions:

• West, Central and Southern Africa (GI WACAF)
• Southeast Asia (GI SEA)
• The Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Central Eurasia (OSPRI)
  

  ---

H1 2026 highlights

• Finalised and secured endorsement of the GI WACAF Strategic Action Plan 2025-2035, establishing a long-term roadmap for strengthening oil spill preparedness and response across the region
• Facilitated two national dispersants regulatory framework workshops in Benin and Cabo Verde, helping align national arrangements with intentional good practice
• Delivered a national workshop on oil spill preparedness and response planning in Ghana, strengthening response coordination and technical capability among key stakeholders
• Contributed to the review of Mauritania’s National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, supporting the continued development of national preparedness arrangements

Coming up

• Participating in the IMO R&D Forum, 21–22 September 2026, Singapore, focused on future developments in marine pollution preparedness and response for alternative fuels
• Taking part in SpillAsia, 23–25 September 2026, Singapore
• Subregional workshop for the development of a subregional agreement, The Gambia (date TBC)

Visit the GI WACAF website

H1 2026 highlights

• Launched the new GI SEA website
• Secured official partnership status for SpillAsia
• Presented on the industry's approach to alternative fuels at a Petroleum Association of Japan workshop
• Strengthened ASEAN engagement through participation in: the 50th ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group meeting in Cambodia; the IMO subregional workshop on transboundary spills in Malaysia; ASCOPE’s mid-year task force meeting in Vietnam
• Delivered multiple preparedness workshops and assessments across the region, including an international oil spill workshop in Indonesia, a claims and compensation workshop in Malaysia and a RETOS assessment workshop in Brunei Darussalam, helping build technical capability and strengthen national and regional response readiness

Coming up

GI SEA will participate in the following industry events:

• 17th Cooperation Forum, 25–26 August 2026, Thailand
• IMO R&D Forum, 21–22 September 2026, Singapore
• SpillAsia, 23–25 September 2026, Singapore
• 51st ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group meeting, October 2026, Cambodia
• Revolving Fund Committee exercise, October 2026, Singapore
• Regional marine pollution exercise, October 2026, Indonesia
• ASCOPE Annual Council meeting, November 2026, Indonesia
• Korea–ASEAN Spill Forum, November 2026, Republic of Korea

Visit the GI SEA website

H1 2026 highlights

• Engaged with government stakeholders in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, strengthening cooperation on oil spill preparedness and response and supporting dialogue on national and regional preparedness priorities across the Caspian region
• Supported North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC) exercise planning, including discussions with authorities on customs clearance procedures and regulatory requirements to facilitate the successful delivery of the September 2026 exercise programme
• Provided technical input to the Sensitivity Mapping Development project in Kazakhstan, supporting updates to existing environmental sensitivity maps and the development of new mapping for the wider Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea to strengthen preparedness and response planning
• Reviewed Azerbaijan's draft National Contingency Plan, providing technical comments and recommendations to support its continued development and alignment with international good practice, while strengthening cross-border cooperation on preparedness and response matters

Coming up

• NCOC exercise preparation meeting, August 2026, Kazakhstan
• NCOC exercise, 20–23 September 2026, Kazakhstan
• Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe workshop, September 2026, Kazakhstan

Visit OSPRI website