OREANDA-NEWS. May 25, 2010. The Federal Arbitration Court of the Urals District upheld the decision of the Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Perm region (the Perm OFAS Russia) regarding "LUKOIL-Permnefteproduct" Ltd. OFAS established the fact of maintaining monopolistically high prices by the company for the main grades of petrol and diesel fuel within the region. The Court of First Instance and the Appeal Court arrived to the same conclusions, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

On 10th June 2009, a Commission of the Perm OFAS Russia found that "LUKOIL-Permnefteproduct" Ltd. violated Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" by fixing and maintaining monopolistically high prices for petrol (grades Аi-80, Аi-92 and Аi-95) and diesel fuel in November - December 2008.

"LUKOIL-Permnefteproduct" Ltd. has dominant position on the retail market of motor petrol and easel fuel in the Perm region.

The Head of the Perm OFAS Russia, Dmitry Makhonin, points out that "LUKOIL-Permnefteproduct" Ltd. was issued a determination to set economically justified prices for motor petrol and diesel fuel sold through service stations in the Perm region. "Now the task of the OFAS is to enforce the determination", -says Dmitry Makhonin.

For the violation the Perm OFAS Russia fined "LUKOIL-Permnefteproduct" Ltd. 51 million Rubles. The Perm Regional Arbitration Court suspended the proceedings on the claim filed by "LUKOIL-Permnefteproduct" Ltd. challenging the fine. "Currently the proceedings should be resumed if the company does not withdrew its claim", added Mr. Makhonin.