Six oil companies that together manage 66% of the gas stations in the country adopt a similar behavior with regard to the modification of prices, which are similar, during 48-72 hours. The analysis of board prices points to a disagreement in the market’s reaction to the international quotations, namely the immediate reaction to the rise in quotations and the delayed reaction to declines. The findings were presented by the Competition Council in the hearings staged by the Parliament’s commission on economy, budget and finance, IPN reports.
Competition Council chairman Marcel Răducan said the institution can intervene on the oil products market went the prices are posted at filling stations, when signs of cartel agreements and abuse of a dominant position are identified. Since March 2019, when the new fuel price formation methodology took effect, the Council has intensified the monitoring measures. Currently, six companies – “Lukoil-Moldova”, “Tirex Petrol”, “Rompetrol”, “Petrom”, “Bemol”, “Datario” – cumulatively manage 467 gas stations, which is 66% of the total. The given companies are the main suppliers of oil products.
During 72 hours, between January 16 and 19, 2021, the prices of gasoline, diesel fuel and liquefied petroleum gas were increased by 6-7%. The difference between these and the previous prices set in December was of 1 leu per liter of gasoline, 0.90 lei per liter of diesel fuel and 0.60 lei per liter of liquefied petroleum gas. The Council ascertained that the rival companies adopt a similar behavior in the modification of prices. Inspections were carried out at the head offices of the companies and the collected information is being processed. The findings will be incorporated into a final decision that will be adopted by the Council.
Veaceslav Untila, director of the National Agency for Energy Regulation, said that since March 2019, in accordance with the amendments made to the law on the oil products market, the license holders set by themselves the retail prices of the main fuels within a markup of 10%.
The commission on economy, budget and finance took note of the presented information and is to set up a working group that will examine the situation on the oil products market.
