Poor weather conditions and a three-day strike led to potential losses of US$14.7 million in turnover in the first half for Irish mining company Kenmare Resources in Mozambique, the company said in a statement.

The revenues from mining heavy sands in Moma, in Mozambique's Nampula province, in the first half totalled US$56 million, as compared to US$40.6 million in the same period of 2010, as a result fo the sale of 349,000 tons of ilmenite, zircon and rutile.

Poor weather restricted loading the final products out at sea and, although the products were loaded as soon as the weather permitted, their sale will only be recorded in the third quarter.

Mining conditions in the second quarter also affected the business and were more difficult than initially expected, as were capital costs and adverse changes to the exchange rate.

In its favour Kenmare Resources had the rapid rise in the price of the minerals it mines at Moma, as ilmenite rose 30 percent against the second half of 2010 and zircon 38 percent, rises that will only be reflected in the company's accounts in the longer term as it is tied to sales contracts that are valid until the end of the year.

The Irish company also said that the project to expand Moma was underway and that when it was finished it would make it possible to produce1.2 million tons of ilmenite, 75,000 tons of zircon and 21,000 tons of rutile.