SOFIA, April 22 (Reuters) - Bulgaria's anti-monopolywatchdog said it had raided the offices of Eco Petroleum, partof Hellenic Petroleum, and Shell Bulgaria, owned byRoyal Dutch Shell, as part of an investigation intopossible cartel agreements.
The inquiry follows complaints by Bulgarians over high fuelcosts despite a plunge in global oil prices and a call by PrimeMinister Boiko Borisov for the competition authority to hastenchecks on the fuel sector.
"Employees of the Commission for Protection of Competitionare carrying out surprise checks on site at the offices of EcoBulgaria and Shell Bulgaria," the commission said in a statementon Friday.
Shell and Eco Petroleum were not available for comment butthe Bulgarian Petrol and Gas Association, of which all of the companies being investigated are members, has said there were no cartel agreements between any of its members.
The latest raids follow others earlier this month on theBulgarian offices of Russia's Lukoil and Romania'sRompetrol.
In February, the watchdog began investigating the fourcompanies, as well as the offices of OMV, Nis Petrol,controlled by Russia's Gazprom Neft and BulgarianPetrol over possible price fixing.
It has also launched a probe into the Lukoil NeftochimBurgas oil refinery over possible breaches of competition rulesrelated to the sale of its fuels on the local market. (Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova and Angel Krasimirov; Editingby Alexander Smith)
