BRUSSELS: The European Commission said Tuesday it carried out surprise inspections at several major oil companies over possible price fixing in breach of EU anti-trust rules.
The Commission did not name any of the companies involved but British energy giant BP, Shell and Norway's Statoil said that their offices had been visited.
The Commission said officials "carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several companies active in and providing services to the crude oil, refined oil products and biofuels sectors.
"These inspections took place in two EU member states," a statement said, adding that one country in the European Economic Area (EEA) -- of which Norway is a member -- was also involved.
"The Commission has concerns that the companies may have colluded ... to manipulate the published prices for a number of oil and biofuel products,'' it said.
Additionally, the firms "may have prevented others from participating in the price assessment process, with a view to distorting published prices."
In a statement, BP said it "is one of the companies that is subject to an investigation ... We are cooperating fully with the investigation and unable to comment further at this time." Shell and Statoil made similar statements.
indiatimes.com
The Commission did not name any of the companies involved but British energy giant BP, Shell and Norway's Statoil said that their offices had been visited.
The Commission said officials "carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several companies active in and providing services to the crude oil, refined oil products and biofuels sectors.
"These inspections took place in two EU member states," a statement said, adding that one country in the European Economic Area (EEA) -- of which Norway is a member -- was also involved.
"The Commission has concerns that the companies may have colluded ... to manipulate the published prices for a number of oil and biofuel products,'' it said.
Additionally, the firms "may have prevented others from participating in the price assessment process, with a view to distorting published prices."
In a statement, BP said it "is one of the companies that is subject to an investigation ... We are cooperating fully with the investigation and unable to comment further at this time." Shell and Statoil made similar statements.
indiatimes.com
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