OREANDA-NEWS. On 24th September 2008, the Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Altai Krai (region) (OFAS Russia) will be hearing the case against "Gazpromneft-Altai" OJSC, "Rosneft - Altainefteproduct" Oil Company" OJSC and several refueling stations for violating the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition", reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The Office needs additional materials to establish the fact of collusion between the companies with regard to their policy on pricing petrol and diesel fuel.

Monitoring retail prices for fuel and lubrication materials, the Altai OFAS Russia discovered relatively consistent and synchronized price changes in April-June 2008 for each type of petrol at the petrol stations of ""Gazpromneft-Altai" OJSC and "Rosneft - Altainefteproduct" Oil Company" OJSC and petrol stations of several economic agents that used "Oktan" trademark.

Under these circumstances, the Altai OFAS Russia initiated a case for violating Article 11 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition", which forbids competition-restrictive agreements and concerted actions of economic entities that result in fixing and (or) maintaining prices for a particular type of goods.

At the case hearing on 27th August 2008, the Antimonopoly Office admitted the need to obtain additional materials important for decision-making on the case. The new hearing is scheduled for 24th September 2008.