Officials of Bulgaria's Commission for Protection of Competition (KZK) are carrying out on Tuesday sudden inspections at the premises of Petrol and NIS Petrol, two of the fuel retailers suspected of being part of a cartel agreement.

The inspections are part of the investigation into alleged cartel agreement between seven fuel retailers and 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 established that although retailers do not supply their petrol stations with fuel produced at the refinery in Burgas, their price policy is identical to that of petrol stations run by Lukoil.

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

This is the latest round of inspections, with KZK having previously inspected the remaining five retailers and the Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association.

During the inspections, KZK has the right to seize all document and other material evidence as well as means for the dissemination of data.