Competition Council should investigate the existence of cartel collusion in the petroleum products market – Forta Fermierilor (Farmers’ Power) Association.
The organization expressed concern about the pressure of a group of oil importers on the agricultural sector, which poses risks to food security in Moldova. The association said in a statement that the situation was the result of a cartel agreement between major fuel importers, who created an artificial shortage of diesel fuel on the wholesale market under the pretext of the war in Ukraine. "Recently, oil importers have refused many agricultural producers in wholesale supplies of fuel, despite the fact that, according to the information from farmers, diesel fuel is imported and stored and then sold to affiliated persons who sell it at a price higher than the established limit, and sometimes with payment in cash. Agricultural producers, blackmailed by fuel shortages, are forced to buy diesel fuel at any price and by any means," reads the statement of the Farmers' Power Association. Agricultural producers state that they receive invoices for diesel fuel to be delivered after a long period of time - about 2 weeks - for more than 31 lei per liter, which contradicts the Emergency Commission decision to limit wholesale prices for diesel fuel. In this connection, the Farmers' Power Association demands the urgent convening of the Emergency Commission to discuss the issue of supplying fuel to agricultural producers. At the same time, the organization put forward specific demands. In particular, it is proposed to prohibit the oil importers during the harvesting period to resell wholesale diesel fuel, with the exception of farmers, transporters and petroleum products market operators who own petrol stations. The agrarians also demand a return to limiting the margin for wholesale sale of all types of diesel fuel (up to 1.5 lei). The Association demands that the Commission on Emergencies obliged the Competition Council to launch an investigation into the existence of cartel agreement on the market of oil products in order to create an artificial deficit and unreasonable increase in prices. The agrarians also demand the amendments to the Regulation on the partial reimbursement of excise duties to farmers by paying the full amount of excise duties to small and medium-sized farmers for the diesel fuel purchased in the 2022 calendar year. // 07.06.2022 – InfoMarket
