SOFIA, April 25 (Reuters) - Bulgaria's competition regulatorsaid on Monday it had raided the offices of the local subsidiaryof Austrian oil group OMV as part of its investigationinto possible cartel agreements.
Bulgarians complain of high fuel costs despite a plunge inglobal oil prices and a call by Prime Minister Boiko Borisov forthe competition authority to speed up its market investigation.
The Commission for Protection of Competition said in astatement its staff were carrying out a spot inspection at theoffices of OMV Bulgaria.
In February the watchdog opened an inquiry covering sevenfuel retailers over possible price-fixing and into Lukoil's Bulgarian oil refinery for possible abuse of itsdominant market position.
OMV was not immediately available for comment, but theBulgarian Petrol and Gas Association, which represents all theinvestigated companies, has said there are no cartel agreementsbetween any of its members.
The commission had already raided the Bulgarian offices ofLukoil Bulgaria, Royal Dutch Shell, Rompetrol and Hellenic Petroleum earlier this month.
Nis Petrol, controlled by Russia's Gazprom Neft and Bulgarian Petrol are also being investigated.
The anti-monopoly commission's spokesman said more spotchecks may be made. (Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
