Johannesburg - Harmony Gold Mining confirmed it was allocated a further 5 percent electricity supply on Tuesday following meetings with South African power utility Eskom and government officials.
The company said that this means that its electricity supply now stands at 90 percent.
"Consequently the majority of our mines are working based on the strategy plan devised for this eventuality," Harmony said in a statement.
"We have a varying staff complement on our mines, with no production workers on some mimes, 60 percent or only care and maintenance workers on other mines, and the rest at full complement," it added.
The gold producer said its higher-grade mines with 100 percent complement included Elandsrand, Randfontein, Tshepong, Evander and some of the Virginia operations.
Those at 60 percent complement are Target, Masimong and Phakisa while the rest of the mines are focusing on project work or care and maintenance.
"We have stopped most of the support infrastructure and some of the metallurgical mills from operating during the country's peak consumption periods. In some cases, hoisting of ore is done between midnight and five in the morning when the country's consumption is at a low peak," Harmony said.
Tuesday's consumption levels across its operations were around 300MW and peaked at 400MW, which is its 80 percent allocation.
This morning the company's operations were again using just 75 percent of the allocated power in view of the country's daytime needs.
"At present there exists excellent communication between Eskom and Harmony and regular updates are being received on the power supply situation," the company confirmed.
Eskom will be phasing in the mining industry's power requirements and Harmony expects to be operating at the allocated 90 percent requirement on Thursday.
At 10.10am shares in Harmony were 1.20 percent or 90 cents lower at R74.10 on the JSE.