On 18th August 2008, the Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (OFAS Russia) in the Komi Republic initiated proceedings against «LUKOIL-Komi» Ltd. for violating Article 10 of the Federal Law «On Protection of Competition» (abusing dominant position on a goods market).
The case was initiated upon a petition of «Nobel Oil» Oil Company» CJSC. The Petitioner stated that «LUKOIL-Komi» Ltd. had put obstacles for pumping petroleum (associated) gas, produced by «Nobel Oil» at the Yuzhno-Oshsky field, over to the Usinsky Gas Processing Plant. Such transportation is only possible by the «Kharyaga-Golovnie UGPZ» inter-field gas pipeline, which is owned by «LUKOIL-Komi. Having investigated the situation, the Komi OFAS Russia found that «LUKOIL-Komi» Ltd. had violated the law.
Pipeline gas transportation is the activity of the subjects of natural monopolies. Article 10 of the Federal Law «On Protection of Competition» prohibits abusing dominant position by economic entities through economically or technologically unjustified refusal or evasion from entering into contracts with individual buyers (clients) if they have a possibility to produce or supply the goods in question.
By 12th September the parties must present all case-related documentation requested by the Komi OFAS Russia. Should the fact of abusing dominant position be confirmed, the company can be imposed a turnover fine from one hundredth to fifteen hundredth of the proceeds gained from its services.
