FAS reported the first cases in the regions due to fuel prices

After an initial analysis of the petroleum products market, regional departments of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) opened several cases, reported press service of the department.

In connection with the sale of motor fuel from oil depots at an inflated price, cases were opened against Oskolneftesnab JSC in the Belgorod region, Gazpromneft Regional Sales LLC in the Rostov region, and Goodwill-A LLC and Realgram LLC in the Stavropol Territory.

At the same time, the Krasnodar department of the FAS opened a case against Ilsky Oil Refinery LLC named after. A.A. Shamara” and LLC “Slavyansk ECO”. According to the service, the case was initiated on the grounds of concluding an anti-competitive agreement.

In Dagestan, the case was opened due to signs of illegal coordination of economic activities. The case involves the Association of Gas Station Owners, the president of which, according to the FAS, coordinated gas station owners and tenants by sending them messages in the messenger. The department claims that the consequence of such activities was a simultaneous increase in retail fuel prices.

According to Rosstat, from the beginning of the year to August, the cost of gasoline at gas stations increased by 7.4%, diesel – by 4.7%, with inflation of 3.7%. On September 27, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who oversees the fuel and energy sector, at a government meeting with President Vladimir Putin told on additional measures to combat rising prices at gas stations. In particular, the Cabinet of Ministers is considering increasing the export duty from 20,000 to 50,000 rubles/t for fuel resellers or a complete ban on the export of fuel purchased on the domestic market, adjusting damper payments to refineries from the budget in order to “compensate for the difference with exports.”

At the same time, Novak proposed to monitor, together with the FAS, the levels of markup on petroleum products at gas stations. According to him, when stock prices fall, prices there should also decline.

On September 21, the government introduced a temporary restriction on the export of motor gasoline and diesel fuel “to stabilize fuel prices on the domestic market.” The Cabinet of Ministers expects that the ban will help “saturate” the fuel market and reduce prices. During a meeting with the government, President Vladimir Putin noted that gasoline should first go to the domestic market, and only then for export.