Fuels quality control monopoly scandal

14/03/2013 00:00

The agreement that gives the fuel quality control monopoly to a private
company cast shadows of doubts that are slowly taking the shape of a
state scandal. The Council of Ministers gave the monopoly to “Global
Fluids” for the next ten years.

The Petroleum Association opposed the concession since the beginning, not only for the high fees that the government approved to the company, but also for the fact that it was being given as a monopoly, while it could have been a liberalized service. For this reason, the association addressed to the Competition Authority, which started the verification procedures by asking information from the Ministry of Finances.

But only two days ago, at the Commission of Economy, the chairwoman of the Authority released this statement:

“The Petroleum Association raised concerns, and we asked the Ministry of Finances about it, and we were informally informed that this procedure has stalled and has not been realized”, declared Lindita Lati, Chairwoman of the Competition Authority.

The declaration of the Competition Authority indicates that the Ministry of Finances has lied to the Authority on this case. Only 24 hours after this statement was released, the government signed the agreement. This means that not only the process was undergoing, but they had also selected the winner.

Based on the Competition Law Article 69, every Ministry is obliged to inform and ask the opinion of the Competition Authority for every decision that is related with the competition limitations.

The limitations are decisions that give monopolies to a company. Since the Ministry of Finances has completely overlooked, in full violation with the law, one might have doubts on the concessionary agreement of the petroleum quality control.

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