Romanian Rompetrol Views Gas Price Hikes’ Report As “Unclear”

Romania’s tax regulator ANAF said in a report prepared for the government that the fuel pump prices were groundlessly raised in 2010, but the oil companies reported losses.

In its turn, Rompetrol said the report contains a series of vague elements, „which fail to reflect the real situation. For example, the leu-to-dollar exchange rate shifts are relevant, since raw material is imported and paid in dollars.”

Prime minister Emil Boc asked ANAF to initiate a general fiscal inspection of local oil companies, while the Competition Council was asked to check for potential cases of monopoly.

Romania’s main fuel distributors are OMV Petrom (SNP.RO), Rompetrol, Lukoil, MOL and OMV.