site.btaAntitrust Watchdog Addresses Alleged Abuse of Monopoly or Dominance by Lukoil Bulgaria

November 8 (BTA) - At the request of OMV Bulgaria OOD, Bulgaria's Commission on Protection of Competition (CPC) has instituted proceedings against Lukoil Bulgaria EOOD in connection with abuse of monopoly or dominance, the CPC said on its website without specifying the cause for the complaint.

In 2009, the CPC responded to alerts and requests from various economic operators and political entities about a fuel price rise in the first half of 2008. Analyzing the automotive fuel selling price formation mechanism used by Lukoil Neftochim Bourgas AD, the Commission found that the prices of the refinery's finished products fluctuated in line with the behaviour of the international market prices.

In 2017, the CPC checked Lukoil and five other companies on suspicions of having formed a cartel. That proceeding was terminated after the six companies adopted internal procedures that were approved by the Commission. DT/LG