BULGARIA’S ANTITRUST REGULATOR AGAIN SUSPECTS CARTEL AGREEMENTS ON FUEL PRICES

Bulgaria’s Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) has accused the largest petrol stations chains in the country in cartel agreements on fuel prices, CPC said on 10th of October.

According to the published information, there is a suspicion that Lukoil Bulgaria, Eko Bulgaria, Shell Bulgaria, OMV Bulgaria, Nis Petrol (Gazprom) and Petrol have entered into agreements on fuel prices.

The anti-monopoly commission says that the 6 companies operating in Bulgaria have exchanged information about sales, market shares and pricing policy.

This is the result from the probe launched at the beginning of 2016.

The first probe started in February and investigated 7 companies: Shell Bulgaria EAD, Rompetrol Bulgaria EAD, Eko Bulgaria, OMV Bulgaria OOD, Petrol AD, Nis Petrol EOOD, Lukoil Bulgaria EOOD and Lukoil Heftochim.

CPC may impose fines on the companies if found guilty in cartel arrangements.