Officials of the Commission for Protection of Competition (KZK) are conducting sudden inspections at the offices of Lukoil Bulgaria and Rompetrol Bulgaria on Wednesday

The inspections are conducted in cooperation with the police and are part of the investigation of suspected cartel agreement between seven fuel retailers and the Lukoil Neftochim 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 pointed that although retailers supply their stations with fuels not produced at the Lukoil refinery, they have identical price policy which does not differ to the prices at petrol stations run by Lukoil.

During the inspection, KZK has the right to seize all kind of written and other material evidence as well as means for the dissemination of information.

Apart from Lukoil and Rompetrol, the other retailers subject to investigation are Shell Bulgaria, Eco Bulgaria, OMV Bulgaria, Petrol and NIS Petrol.

In March, KZK carried out an inspection at the Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association.