A court in Solomon Islands has declared two mining companies can continue their bauxite mining operations on Rennell Island.
Police stopped the mining by Asia Pacific Investment Development and its subsidiary Bintan Mining Solomon Islands following legal advice from the country's Attorney Genera, James Apaniai.
The Solomon Islands High Court quashed Mr Apaniai's order in his judgement, declaring no one should interfere with APID's mining operations on the island.
On the same day as the ruling the Ministry of Mines and Energy held up the shipment of more than 10,000 metric tonnes of bauxite worth millions of dollars.
A ship which carried the bauxite mined by APID and Bintan was held up outside the capital city of Honiara.
It is not yet clear whether the High Court ruling will affect the hold-up.
