/ world today news/ Uncontrolled sale of fuel due to easily manipulated seals was detected by the control authorities during a joint inspection at gas stations. In his typical “I slaughter, I deliver justice!” Borisov rode the broom and ordered an urgent replacement of the seals, and “if he gets hold of” any offender again, he will hold the ministers personally responsible. If it is even necessary, the economic minister and his deputies will travel “from seal to seal to check”, threatened Borisov.
There are gas stations where 40% of the fuel is turpentine, the prime minister was also indignant. Very impractical these fuel dealers? A search on the Internet shows that the price of turpentine starts at BGN 4.90 and BGN 5.54 per liter. No matter how you look at it, its price is double that of gasoline, and on top. Which merchant would be interested is a question that only casts doubt on the reality of the inspection results.
It would be completely different if water was found in the gasoline, with the practice of which the traders often “baptize” the fuel. This is exactly what the experts point to as the main reason for the premature failure of new engines.
Otherwise, the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision regularly carries out inspections of gas stations, usually following reports from citizens. As a result, quite often fines are imposed and even gas stations are closed.
The news in this case is that Borisov ordered Minister Tomislav Donchev to initiate an investigation into a cartel agreement in the fuel sector. However, with only regulations, we have convinced ourselves that things do not happen. There are loopholes and excuses, and in this case, immediately. Donchev hastened to justify himself that he had no right to give such an order to the Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC), but he had already recommended in May that a sectoral analysis be made. After that, the inspection according to the regulation lasts for one year. We know that this is not the first time the Borissov cabinet has checked the market for a cartel. However, the first time (2011) was not on the Prime Minister’s initiative, but because of civil discontent and mass protests over fuel prices. The carriers signaled to the Minister of Transport that they were at risk of bankruptcy because of the price of diesel, which then hit record levels – BGN 2.52. Accordingly, he asked the CPC and the Commission for Consumer Protection (CPC) to check whether there is a cartel in the setting of prices of fuels.
The committees referred were not very enthusiastic. The KZP justified that they could not check for cartels, but only to gather information and help the KZP with it. And she, for her part, justified herself by saying that she would check the signals and then decide whether to check for a cartel. The antimonopoly authority then carried out a sectoral analysis covering the period 2009-2011 and a year later announced that there was evidence of a cartel between the 4 largest companies on the market, which hold 60% of the fuel market. However, the “evidence” of a cartel was indirect and would not hold up in court, because the information was gathered through letters exchanged between the companies and the commission, without on-site inspections at the companies’ offices.
Another 3 months were needed for a final decision, after which the CPC announced, as expected, that there is no cartel on the fuel market. The antimonopoly authority issued only prescriptions to fuel traders without imposing fines.
The reason for the current review is that the decline in the price of oil and in general the dynamics of the international markets are not adequately reflected in the domestic market. And elections are coming – we have to show that we defend the interests of the people. How – we have already seen. Only the theater is more flashy. And the audience – already bored and distrustful…
#chasing #bad #guys #View #Info
