OREANDA-NEWS. December 14, 2011. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Novosibirsk region (Novosibirsk OFAS Russia) established that fact of concerted actions of “Gazoil” Ltd., “Sibgaz” Ltd. and “Propan-Butan” Ltd., reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

From 1st September to 10th November 2011, sellers of liquified petroleum gas fixed identical retail prices for liquified petroleum gas and supported the same level of prices by practically simultaneously changing (increasing) them. All parties to the case were buying gasoline from different suppliers at different prices, had different internal production costs and the number of gas filling stations, increased retail prices for the same amount, fixing them at the same level.

Companies’ representatives explained that growth of prices for liquified petroleum gas was due to growing prices of suppliers as well as internal production costs (increased personnel, acquiring the main assets, construction of new gas filling stations, etc.). The antimonopoly body found these arguments unreasonable: the costs incurred in Q1 and Q2 2011 could not have affected retail prices in September.

Novosibirsk OFAS Russia found that “Gazoil” Ltd., “Sibgaz” Ltd. and “Propan-Butan” Ltd. violated Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

“Analysis retail price behaviour at gas filling stations, owned by “Gazoil” Ltd., “Sibgaz” Ltd. and “Propan-Butan” Ltd., shows that the companies changed prices simultaneously and it was not confirmed that growth of retail prices for liquified petroleum gas was caused by increased prices of suppliers”, explained Deputy Head of Novosibirsk OFAS Russia, Alexander Yelchaninov.