Officials of the Commission for Protection of Competition (KZK) are conducting a sudden inspection at the premises of OMV Bulgaria on Monday.

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

Apart from OMV, the other six fuel retailers suspected of being part of the cartel agreement are Shell Bulgaria, Eko Bulgaria, Lukoil Bulgaria, Rompetrol Bulgaria, Petrol and NIS Petrol.

KZK has already conducted inspections at Shell and Eko, Lukoil and Rompetrol and the Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association.