HONIARA (SIBC/PINA) — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza says his government is looking into removing oil still trapped in sunken warships in Iron Bottom Sound.
Iron Bottom Sound, between North Guadalcanal, Savo and Ngela Islands, was scene of some of the fiercest World War II naval battles between Allied and Japanese fleets.
Kemakeza was responding to a question about liabilities in regards to the Iron Bottom Sound oil and possible contamination.
Kemakeza said the government “is taking this seriously.” He said he had approached international agencies to undertake a study on the environmental effects as well as the possible long-term impact on the tourism industry.
Last year in Yap, oil leaking into the lagoon from a sunken World War II wreck caused a major environmental scare.
Parliament heard that the Fiji-based South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission had conducted mapping and a contamination risk assessment exercise on the wrecks in early 1999.
This resulted in a better picture of the location of those of possible concern.
