CIL strike: Government open to discussions, says Power Minister

New Delhi: Ahead of the CIL workers' proposed nation-wide stir on Friday, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said healthy conversations are the way forward and the government is always open to discussions.

The trade unions are slated to go on a nation-wide stir on September 2 to press for their various demands. "We believe as a government that healthy conversations and discussions are the way forward," Goyal said in a interview to PTI.

Asserting that it is in the interest of everybody to talk, the minister said "we are always open to discussing issues".

The minister added that strikes will not offer any benefit to the employees, workmen or the nation.

The strike comes at a time when the country is eyeing an ambitious target of 1.5 billion tonnes of coal production by 2020. Of this, CIL, which accounts for over 80 percent of the domestic output, is looking at one billion tonnes.

Recently, Coal India (CIL) told the bourses: "We have received a communication for notice... For strike on September 2." It added that efforts are being made for conciliation.

PwC's Kameswara Rao said that "given the lean demand and high coal stocks at plants and mines, the strike will have limited direct impact".

He further said the dynamics are changing with low global coal prices and the rising share of renewable energy, and coal companies and its stakeholders should be prepared for competitive and commercial pressure.