OREANDA-NEWS. July 09, 2008. The Astrakhan Regional Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (OFAS Russia) recognized that "Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhsknefteproduct" Ltd. and "Gazprom dobycha Asrakhan" Ltd. breached Article 11 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" and issued a determination to eliminate the violations, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The Commission of the Antimonopoly Office recognized that two largest actors on the market of retail sale of oil products - "Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhsknefteproduct" Ltd. and "Gazprom dobycha Asrakhan" Ltd - were engaged in concerted actions towards fixing prices on A-76, AI-92 and AI-95 motor petrol and diesel fuel in the Astrakhan region.

Monitoring the prices, Astrakhan OFAS Russia established that in May-June the companies set the same prices for the following oil products:

- AI-80 – 18,40 Rubles per liter, from 30.04.08 to 13.06.08;
- AI-92 – 22,60 Rubles per liter, from 30.04.08 to 13.06.08;
- AI-95 – 22,90 Rubles per liter, from 30.04.08 to 19.05.08;
- Diesel fuel – 21,60 Rubles per liter, from 30.04.08 to 12.05.08.

Article 11 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" forbids concerted actions between economic entities or concerted actions that lead to may lead to fixing or maintaining prices.

Having processed the case, Astrakhan OFAS Russia issued a determination to "Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhsknefteproduct" Ltd. and "Gazprom dobycha Asrakhan" Ltd requesting the companies to terminate concerted actions aimed at fixing and maintaining retail prices for motor petrol and diesel fuel in the Astrakhan region, by avoiding simultaneous or immediate reduplication of the actions of an economic entity by another economic entity.

Astrakhan OFAS Russia also initiated administrative proceedings against each company under Article 14.32 of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation, which may result in imposing administrative fines - 1-15 % of the proceeds gained by the violator by selling goods on the market where the violation was committed.