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SOFIA, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Bulgaria's anti-monopolycommission on Monday accused six oil companies operating on itsretail fuel market of involvement in cartel agreements on fuelprices.
The commission said Lukoil Bulgaria, part of LUKOIL, Shell Bulgaria, part of Royal Dutch Shell,OMV, Eko Bulgaria, a unit of Hellenic Petroleum, Petrol and Nis Petrol, which is controlledby Russia's Gazprom Neft had collaborated to fixretail prices of diesel and gasoline.
"The Commission considers that the actions of theabove-mentioned companies constitute a violation, resulting in aprohibited agreement and or concerted practice to exchange priceinformation and conduct a common pricing policy as well asexchanging information on sales," the commission said in astatement.
The commission began investigating fuel retailers inFebruary after many Bulgarians complained of high fuel costsdespite a plunge in global oil prices
A spokeswoman for Lukoil Bulgaria declined comment, sayingthe company needs time to see the commission's findings.
The other five companies were not immediately available forcomment. They denied any involvement in price-fixing when thecommission launched its inquiry.
The companies will have 30 days to comment on the findingsof the commission.
The initial inquiry included Rompetrol, which isnot on the current list of fuel retailers the commission saysare part of the cartel.
In April, the watchdog raided the offices of OMV, LukoilBulgaria, Royal Dutch, Rompetrol and Hellenic Petroleum. (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; editing by TsveteliaTsolova/Ruth Pitchford)
