The German anti-cartel office has launched a probe of the motor fuel sector following complaints by independent service stations that major oil companies were gouging them on diesel and petrol prices. "The goal is to see if the fuel markets are functioning correctly," the office said in a statement.
An initial check would be made for signs of distorted competition, following which measures would be taken if necessary. The service stations have complained that major oil companies which have their own distribution networks have forced independents to pay higher prices.
An investigation in the eastern state of Saxony has determined the market is dominated by Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Total. The anti-cartel office hoped to release a preliminary report on the matter by the end of 2008.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the national railway Deutsche Bahn said that stiff increases in the price of petrol resulted in an increase of 20 million passenger trips between January and April compared with the same period a year earlier. Polls of clients have found many have begun to take the train because the cost of a trip can be up to 60 percent cheaper than using a car.