EC investigates energy companies in Romania for blocking gas exports

European Commission officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several companies active in the supply and transport of natural gas in Romania on June 6, according to an EC statement. “The Commission has concerns that the companies involved may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices and/or the abuse of a dominant market position,” reads the EC statement. “The Commission is investigating potential anticompetitive practices in the transmission and supply of natural gas in Romania, in particular relating to suspected anticompetitive behavior aimed at hindering natural gas exports from Romania to other Member States.” The controls targeted Romanian gas producers Romgaz and OMV Petrom, and gas transporter Transgaz. The EC inspectors apparently confiscated the phones of the OMV Petrom board members, according to market sources quoted by Ziarul Financiar. The European Commission’s inspections aim to gather proof related to the three Romanian companies’ anticompetitive practices. The three companies have confirmed the inspections and said they were cooperating with the investigators. Romania’s Competition Council has also been helping with the investigation, which is the first such operation carried out by the European Commission in Romania. Gas interconnector between Bulgaria and Romania delayed Hungarian Minister criticizes Romania on gas interconnection editor@romania-insider.com