In 2019, a major oil spill in a remote region of the Solomon Islands seriously impacted the health and livelihoods of local communities in the affected area around Rennell Island, Solomon Islands.

King Trader Ltd. (Hong Kong), which owned the vessel involved in the incident, was transporting bauxite to China from a local mine operated by Bintan Mining Solomon Islands Ltd. Media reports about the incident are linked below. 

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited both the ship owner, King Trader, and miner, Bintan Mining Solomon Islands Ltd., to respond to these issues. Neither company responded to us. 

In 2025, legal action was launched on behalf of Rennell Island landowners for recompense.