Russian Lukoil fined 100 million euros in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, a Russian oil company Lukoil must pay 100 million euros for abuse of dominance by restricting access to tax warehouses and transport infrastructure. This was reported by Euractiv.

The Commission for the Protection of Competition found that Lukoil violated the law by preventing importers and manufacturers of motor fuels from accessing their own warehouses.

The company has limited imports by sea, blocking warehouses connected to the Rosenets and Petrol-Varna oil terminals, and not providing access to the group’s oil product pipelines for fuel transportation to other producers and importers.

“This may lead to the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition and affect the interests of consumers due to restrictions on the import of motor fuels in the country,” said the commission.

Lukoil abuses its dominant position both under national and European Union law, as the restriction of imports to Bulgaria could significantly affect the structure of trade between EU member states.

Lukoil owns the most extensive storage and transportation infrastructure in Bulgaria and, with a high share of the vehicle fuel storage market, is a dominant company. Using anti-competitive practices, the Russian company maintains its leadership position in Bulgaria at the level of wholesale and retail trade.

It will be remembered that earlier in Bulgaria, Lukoil’s subsidiary was fined $36.8 million.

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