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Competition Council probes eventual cartel agreements on oil market


https://www.ipn.md/index.php/en/competition-council-probes-eventual-cartel-agreements-on-oil-market-7966_1088437.html

The Competition Council said it is examining the situation on the oil products market, including the wholesale and retailing prices of gasoline and diesel fuel, so as to identify eventual cartel agreement or abuses of dominant position. Steps will be taken immediately after anti-competition practices are detected, IPN reports.

The Competition Council will intervene mostly in situations when the wholesale price of diesel fuel exceeds the highest retail price set by the regulator based on international quotations. If the economic justification for the appearance of such situations is absent, the Council can take measures within the limits of its powers that are stipulated by the competition law.

“The companies must independently decide the price policy, depending on the own strategy and the structure of the costs incurred in their activities, while the concerted agreements and/or action on the market are punished in accordance with the legislation in the field,” said the Council.

During a year, the price of diesel fuel grew by 5 lei and by another 5 lei the last few days alone. Wholesale purchases were by up to 4 lei more expensive than the retail ones.