Lukoil Bulgaria Cleared of Abuse of Dominant Position

Fuel company Lukoil Bulgaria EOOD has not abused its dominant position in the wholesale market of gasoline A95 and diesel fuel, according to Bulgaria's Commission on Protection of Competition (KZK).

Bulgaria's anti-trust watchdog studied the trade relations of the company with its wholesale clients, paying special attention to its discount policies, concluding that the price reductions for loyal clients did not constitute a breach of the requirements of fair competition.

The analysis showed that the discounts offered by Lukoil Bulgaria EOOD in the five year period under review had not led to market distortions, which was further confirmed by the fact that the share of fuel imports was quite high and was on the rise.

The anti-trust watchdog also ruled that the Burgas-based Lukoil Neftochim refinery and Lukoil Aviation Bulgaria EOOD had not breached competition laws through an unjustified refusal to supply jet fuel to airports and carriers on Bulgarian territory.

According to the KZK, the proceedings indicated that the companies had the characteristics of companies holding a dominant position on the respective markets but they had not abused this dominant position.

The anti-trust watchdog launched a cartel probe among four companies, Lukoil Bulgaria EOOD, Rompetrol Bulgaria AD, Naftex Petrol EOOD and OMV Bulgaria OOD, over the record fuel prices in end-March.

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