It is the biggest fine ever issued by the Competition Council and the only one of its kind in the European Union, the agency’s head, Bogdan Chiritoiu said in a news conference.
Chiritoiu presented the results of an investigation against six oil companies suspected of having reached an understanding to withdraw a type of fuel from the market back in 2008.
OMV Petrom, together with OMV Petrom Marketing, Rompetrol Downstream, ENI Romania, MOL Romania Petroleum Products and Lukoil Romania were each slapped with fines representing some 3% of their sales reported for 2010.
The six companies are accused of agreeing to withdraw a type of fuel from the market and replacing it with a more expensive one, thus hurting end-consumers.
OMV Petrom and its marketing division OMV Petrom Marketing were fined RON366.53 million and RON137.28 million, respectively, Petrom said in a statement later Tuesday. The fines are not justified and will be challenged in court, it said.
Rompetrol and MOL also announced they would appeal the competition council’s decision.
“MOL Romania has been fined with RON80.267 million (EUR18.5 million), that is 3% of the company’s turnover registered in 2010. MOL Romania will file a motion to suspend the execution of the above-mentioned decision and will challenge it with the Bucharest Appeal Court,” the company said in a release.
Rompetrol didn’t specify the amount of the fine issued against it.