Italy's antitrust authority opens probe into energy firms over transport fuel (updated)
19/07/2023 18:53
(Adds details, Q8 statement)
ROME, July 19 (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust authority
AGCM said on Wednesday it opened a probe into several energy
groups citing an alleged cartel over the sale of transport fuel.
The companies, including Italy's Eni ENI.MI , Saras
SRS.MI , Esso, Ip and Kuwait's Q8, allegedly coordinated price
increases for the bio-component of the fuels they sell, the
authority said in a statement.
"The value of this important price component has risen from
20 euros ($22.39) per cubic metre in 2019 to around 60 euros per
cubic metre today and had an impact on prices," the AGCM said.
The watchdog said it had carried out searches of the
companies' main offices in Italy.
In an emailed message, Q8 said that its conduct had always
been in full compliance with the regulations in force, including
competition and consumer protection regulations.
"The company is giving, and will continue to give, its
utmost cooperation to the authorities, confident that the
proceedings will clarify and confirm the correctness of its
conduct in the shortest possible time," it said.
The other groups involved were not immediately available to
respond to a Reuters' request for comment.
($1 = 0.8932 euros)
(Reporting by Federica Urso and Francesca Landini; Editing
Francesca Landini and Mike Harrison)
((federica.urso@tr.com))