Bulgaria's anti-monopoly commission said four oil companies operating in the Balkan country, including the Bulgarian unit of Russia's LUKOIL , had been involved in cartel agreements on fuel prices. The Commission for Protection of Competition said on Friday LUKOIL Bulgaria, Austria's OMV, Rompetrol Bulgaria, which is part of a group that also controls the Romanian Petromidia refinery, and Bulgaria's Naftex Petrol, a fuel wholeseller unit of Petrol AD, have been involved in fuel price-fixing.
"The breach consists of a banned agreement and co-ordinated practice of setting prices, which in their aim or result prevent, limit, or breach competition on the wholesale markets of petrol and diesel fuels," it said in a statement. The companies have 30 days to comment on the commission's findings before it finally rules on the issue. Rompetrol Bulgaria, which has about 70 filling stations and targets a 7 to 8 percent market share, said it was surprised by the ruling as it has always worked in line with the regulations.