The Gambia will today host an international workshop centred on the development and update of the oil spill national contingency plans, organised by the International Petroleum Industry Conservation Association (IPIECA).

Scheduled from 31st March to 3rd April 2009, the workshop will be held at the Paradise Suites Hotel and will bring together 40 participants drawn from institutions and petroleum industries in the West and Central Africa Region (WACAF).

According to a press release issued by the Office of the Vice President, the workshop is placed under the Global Initiative, which is a project that aims at assisting 21 countries within West and Central Africa region, so as to develop their national systems for oil spill preparedness and cooperation. ''With a view of achieving these objectives, since 2006, the IPIECA has developed a programme of action to support governments in the organisation of workshops and seminars aiming at developing, testing, reviewing and updating the national oil spill contingency plans,'' the release outlined.

The Gambia has already joined this move, in establishing the Disaster Management Agency, a body tasked with the coordination of the National Policy on Disaster Management, including contingency planning under the coordinated authority of the Office of the Vice President.

The press release also recalled that the IPIECA, together with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), will provide experts and facilitate the activities during the workshop. "Such a programme will serve to enhance national capacity in oil spill preparedness and response. The vice president of the Republic and chairperson of the National Disaster Management Governing Council will officially open this meeting,'' the release added.