Moldovan authorities propose to establish in the country general pricing rules for basic petroleum products to ensure their fair value at filling stations.
According to the press service of the parliament, this is provided for by amendments to the Law on the Oil Products Market, proposed as a legislative initiative by independent MP Alexandru Oleinic. The Commission on Economy, Budget and Finance at a meeting on Wednesday considered the bill and recommended it for consideration and adoption by the plenum of parliament in first reading. According to the author, his proposed amendments are aimed at limiting abuse in this area by creating in the future an economic environment based on the principles of a market economy. “The amendments made by the parliament in July 2018 to the Law on the Oil Products Market, allowing the importers and sellers of fuel to set prices for oil products, are unreasonable,” the MP said. The draft law he proposed contains an appendix that provides a formula for calculating the maximum retail prices for basic petroleum products. They will be calculated for 1 liter separately for each type of product and imported batch. According to the author, his proposed amendments will lead to the creation of a fairer competitive environment in the market, especially in relation to small companies, since price regulation will exclude potential abuse by large operators through actual price dictation and, accordingly, the elimination of unfair competition (with cartel agreements characteristics). At the same time, the mentioned initiative is aimed at ensuring the establishment of fair prices for petroleum products, taking into account fluctuations in their value on international and regional stock exchanges (Platts). The MP also proposes setting prices for petroleum products in strict accordance with their quality, taking into account Platts quotes, as well as encouraging the efficient use of financial resources by the management of the petroleum companies. // 24.02.2021 - InfoMarket.
