OREANDA-NEWS. September 18, 2009. The Tomsk Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (the Tomsk OFAS Russia) initiated proceedings against "Neftebaza" Ltd., "Kargasoknefteproduct" Ltd. and "SeverNefteproduct" Ltd. for the signs of breaching Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition", reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The case was initiated upon receiving information that economic entities selling oil products at service station in Kargasok village were fixing the same retail prices for the same dates.

An inspection revealed that "Neftebaza" Ltd., "Kargasoknefteproduct" Ltd. and "SeverNefteproduct" Ltd. were selling oil products in Kargasok village, in particular, motor petrol grades АI-80 and АI-92 and diesel fuel. In July - November 2008 the companies were simultaneously increasing prices in the same goods market (the market of oil products).

Article 11 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" prohibits agreements or concerted actions between economic entities on the goods market if such agreements or concerted actions lead or can lead to fixing or maintaining prices.

If the Tomsk OFAS Russia finds that "Neftebaza" Ltd., "Kargasoknefteproduct" Ltd. and "SeverNefteproduct" Ltd. violated the antimonopoly legislation, the companies will face administrative charges in the form of a fine from one hundredth to fifteen hundredths of the proceeds gained by the violator from selling goods (works, services) in the market where the administrative violation was committed, but no less than 100,000 Rubles.

The Commission of the Tomsk OFAS Russia will look into all circumstances of the case on 20th October 2009.

According to Anatoly Golomolzin, Deputy Head of FAS Russia, "the Antimonopoly Service and its regional offices are closely following the situation on retail and wholesale markets of oil products to reveal violations of the laws on competition everywhere in each Russian region, regardless of its scale. Systemic elimination of violations in this field - is one of the utmost important and top-priority tasks, and is under continuous control of the Antimonopoly Service".