CCI to put OMC’s under scanner

24 Sep 2012 Evaluate

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered into detailed investigation into alleged cartel-like behavior of oil marketing companies (OMC’s) increasing and decreasing prices of petrol in unison. After initiating similar probe into real estate companies, the competition watchdog has now put oil PSUs under scanner. Further, the Commission is expected to make a final decision in this regard in the first fortnight of October.

The decision to refer the matter to the director general (DG) investigation was taken earlier this month following a high-level long meeting within CCI, where all the members felt the need to refer the matter in order to understand whether the case of price fixation existed or not, even though prima-facie the evidence suggested so.  After carrying out an initial enquiry on the matter, the CCI found that “there was no valid reason why OMCs- Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporations (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) were increasing and decreasing the price of petrol in unison, as the product was already decontrolled. Further, the official highlighted such behavior of OMC’s was seen limiting competition in the market and not giving consumers the opportunity to choose the best price.

OMCs earlier used to revise petrol prices on 1st and 16th of every month on the basis of average international oil prices and the foreign exchange rate in the previous fortnight. However, since late July, it was observed that no longer was the same being practiced and instead revision of rates took place on random dates in order to deter petrol pump dealers building positions.

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