OREANDA-NEWS. December 05, 2011. The Commission of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) terminated the proceedings against “Bashneft” ANK” OJSC due to voluntary elimination of the violation – fixing and maintaining monopolistically high prices on the wholesale market of gasoline in April – September 2011. FAS did not find any other violations on the actions of “Bashneft” ANK” OJSC, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Eliminating the consequences of the violation, the company has submitted to FAS Russia information that its prices for unleaded gasoline Premium Euro-95 were reduced by 18.3% and for unleaded gasoline Regular Euro-92 – by 15.5%. Prices were reduced in two stages – in October and November 2011. The company also voluntarily reduced its gasoline prices on the small wholesale market. The company does not create discriminatory conditions for its counteragents.

“These facts as well as the fact that the company violated the antimonopoly law on the market of oil products for the first time, active involvement of “Bashneft” ANK” OJSC in exchange trade and social-and-economic effects from supplying fuel for the needs of agriculture will be taken into consideration by FAS when a decision is made regarding the size of the fine”, commented Deputy Head of FAS Anatoly Golomolzin. “Under the established procedures the minimum fine can be 1% of the income of the violator from selling goods on the market where the violations was committed”.

The antimonopoly case against “TNK-BP Holding” OJSC continues. On 24th November 2011, the company attended the meeting of the FAS Commission, where it learned about the findings of the analysis on the state of competition on oil products markets, and asked if the company could prepare its comments and responses. FAS allowed such a possibility to the company.

At the same time Anatoly Golomolzin points out that “the findings of market analysis were considered by the Supreme Arbitration Court already in two cases and earlier oil companies, in particular, “TNK-BP Holding” OJSC, agreed with FAS conclusions. The FAS Commission did not get answers to several questions on the facts of antimonopoly violations; therefore the case is suspended until December”.