Officials of the Commission for Protection of Competition (KZK) are conducting sudden inspections at the premises of Shell Bulgaria and Eko Bulgaria on Friday. The inspections are part of the investigation into alleged cartel agreement between seven fuel retailers and the Lukoil Nefthochim oil refinery in Burgas.

KZK launched the investigation in February after conducting its latest sector analysis of the fuel market, which gave it grounds to investigate suspected abuse of dominant market position. The analysis established that although fuel retailers supply their petrol stations with fuels not produced at the Lukoil refinery, they have identical price policy which does not differ from that of petrol stations run by Lukoil.

During the inspections, KZK has the right to seize all kind of written or material evidence as well as means for the dissemination of information. Earlier in April, KZK inspected the offices of Lukoil Bulgaria and Rompetrol Bulgaria, while last month it carried out an inspection at the Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association. Apart from Shell, Eko, Lukoil and Rompetrol, the other three retailers subject to investigation are OMV Bulgaria, Petrol and NIS Petrol.