In the wake of the violent protests in Kazakhstan, the largest seller of liquefied gas, the giant Kazmunaygas (owner of Rompetrol) is suspected of conspiring with other local producers to raise gas prices, a measure that has sparked social unrest. The allegations are made by the Agency for the Protection of Competition, which estimates an agreement between four major local producers regarding the setting of gas prices.
Specifically, the Competition Agency found signs of a secret agreement on gas prices between Kazmunaygas, Kazgermunai, CNPC-Aktobemunaigaz and Kazakhoil. If found guilty, the companies will be fined, they report kommersant.ru.
“In their actions, there are signs of price collusion and abuse of a dominant position in the market,” a representative of the Agency told Khabar 24 (quoted by TASS ).
A representative of the Kazakhstan Agency for the Protection of Competition said that within 20 days, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev would be presented with preliminary data on tariff increases.
Recall that today the government of Kazakhstan introduced the maximum prices for liquefied gas and gasoline, as well as a moratorium on raising utility tariffs for a period of six months amid protests that began due to the sharp rise in fuel prices.
In Kazakhstan, a state of emergency has been declared, in addition, the internet does not work and there are interruptions to the mobile signal. At the request of President Tokayev, the first peacekeeping units in Russia arrived in the country under the CSTO agreement and began to carry out their tasks.
photo source: Kazmunaygas building / globalcapital.com
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