OREANDA-NEWS. August 04, 2011. The Commission of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that “Gazprom Neft” OJSC violated the antimonopoly law by fixing monopolistically high prices for diesel fuel and aviation kerosine in Q4 2010 and at the beginning of 2011 and creating discriminatory conditions on the market of diesel fuel and aviation kerosine. Under Article 48 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”, the Commission terminated the proceedings against “Gazprom Neft” OJSC due to voluntary elimination of the antimonopoly violation and its consequences by the company, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

In its written statement of 20th June 2011, “Gazprom Neft” OJSC admitted the fact of violating the antimonopoly law; and at the hearing on 29th July 2011 presented oral and written explanations to the Commission regarding elimination of the violation and its consequences.

FAS Russia points out that the company started taking certain actions towards improving the situation on the market of aviation kerosine in mid-December 2010; and at the beginning of February 2011 “Gazprom Neft” OJSC started changing its pricing policy for supplying fuel to the federal wholesale market of oil products. After the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation passed the precedent ruling regarding “Gazprom Neft” OJSC of 15th February 2011, the company has radically adjusted its conduct and has undertaken the necessary steps towards ensuring competitive conditions.

The company moved to the types of fuel that comply with the Technical Regulations “On the Requirements to Motor and Aviation Petrol, Diesel and Marine Fuels for Jet Engines and Residual Oil”. “Gazprom Neft” OJSC increased fuel supply to domestic market from 20% to 40% in the first six months of 2011 in comparison with the similar period of 2010, including the hard period of April – May. The company pur forward several initiatives towards improving the rules of exchange trading with oil products. In June – July 2011 “Gazprom Neft” OJSC started to register off-exchange contracts, and registered 1100 transactions, or more than 40% of the total number of registered transactions.

FAS will take into account these and other circumstances when making a decision about the size of the administrative fine.