Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights has imposed financial penalties on 22 automotive gas filling stations (AGFCS) operating in Nukus.
The action followed the identification of signs of coordinated anticompetitive conduct in setting compressed gas prices, the committee’s press service reported.
The investigation was launched following a complaint from a citizen and covered 22 gas filling stations in the city. It found that all the inspected stations had simultaneously increased the price of one cubic metre of compressed gas. The average increase amounted to 1,050 soums compared with the previous prices.
A special commission of the committee’s territorial office opened proceedings against the stations over suspected violations of Article 19 of the Law on Competition.
After reviewing the case materials, the commission decided to impose financial penalties. It also issued binding orders requiring the stations to eliminate the identified violations and prevent similar conduct in the future.
Nine of the 22 stations challenged the commission’s findings in court. According to the committee, the courts upheld the legality of the decisions.
The committee did not disclose the total amount of the fines or the penalties imposed on individual stations.
