An important case for Solomon Islands, and one that will likely attract international attention was filed in the High Court in Honiara on January 31 by the landowners of the Kangava Bay Community East Rennell Island and the attorney general on behalf of the Solomon Islands Government.
The Solomon Islands Government is supporting the landowners of Kangava Bay, East Rennell by joining a compensation claim against international companies for an oil spill that happened in February 2019.
Those involved in the oil spill are being called upon to defend a claim brought by the landowners affected by the spill, along with the government of Solomon Islands, who are seeking environmental and other damages.
It is considered the biggest environmental disaster in Solomon Islands’ history, with the Solomon Islands government claiming that the “subsequent oil spill caused environmental devastation at Rennell Island.”
A first-of-its-kind claim in both collaboration and magnitude, the government and landowners have joined as co-claimants to pursue a group of international companies.
Acting jointly with the landowners in the matter, the attorney-general will lead the Solomon Islands government in the claim.
According to reports from the Australian government, in February 2019 a bauxite bulk carrier, carrying an estimated 700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, ran aground in Solomon Islands’ Rennell and Bellona Province.
“Aerial assessments conducted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) on behalf of the Solomon Islands government confirmed extensive oil leakage around the ship, dispersing across the surrounding sea and shoreline,” the Australian government said at the time.
Australia responded to the incident, supporting the Solomon Islands Government by providing technical advice and assistance to inform government assessments and response to the spill.
Solomon Islands Minister of Environment Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology Trevor Mahaga, pointed out that “while East Rennell is a remote area, its environmental importance cannot be overstated and significant damage was done to this important part of our country and despite the generous clean-up assistance from Australia and New Zealand at the time, the residents continue to be impacted.”
