An anti-corruption watchdog in Solomon Islands says the government has to explain how two Asian companies got licences to either prospect or mine for bauxite in Rennell and Bellona.
Transparency Solomon Islands says due process has not been followed.
It says approvals seem to have been given very quickly - in some instances landowners have signed blank pieces of paper or they did not know understand the content of the documents.
TSI's Daniel Fenua says landowners asked it to help search for answers.
"Landowners are expressing their dissatisfaction about what is going on in terms of how they've actually gone through the whole process. They're asking us to really support their call for the government to really reconsider the vision on this issue."
TSI's Daniel Fenua says his organisation is finding more and more examples of due process not being following by the country's leaders or government departments.