The Solomon Islands High Court has stopped the export of bauxite by an Indonesian mining firm, Bintang Borneo, on Rennell Island.
Photo: AFP
High Court Judge Leonard Maina has ordered Bintang Borneo not to export 56,000 tonnes of bauxite it has stockpiled on Rennell.
He gave the order last week after a rival company, Asia Pacific Investment Limited, or APID, took legal action.
APID had gone to court after the recent government directive giving Bintang Borneo an export licence.
Meanwhile, Solomons' Customs has detained a ship Bintang brought to Honiara to transport the bauxite.
Mr Maina's High Court order stops Bintang from loading the mineral because he says it has been dug illegally.
The order also stops the Solomons' Director of Mines from interfering or disturbing mining operations by APID and confirms it is only company able to legitimately extract bauxite on Rennell.