EC officials raid Romanian gas companies

European Union antitrust regulators have raided several natural gas companies in Romania over on suspicion of blocking gas exports to other EU countries, the European Commission (EC) said on June 7. 

"The Commission is investigating potential anticompetitive practices in the transmission and supply of natural gas in Romania, in particular relating to suspected anticompetitive behaviour aimed at hindering natural gas exports from Romania to other member states," the statement said. 

The statement said that it has concerns that the companies may have engaged in anticompetitive agreements or abused their dominant position in breach of Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The raids took place on June 6. EC officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the Romanian competition authority. The statement did not name the companies. 

However, according to several press reports, the offices of Romgaz, state-owned Transgaz and OMV Petrom, controlled by Austria's OMV, were raided.

Romgaz Plant (photo: Romgaz)

EC competition officials have also charged Russian state gas company Gazprom with anti-trust violations and the case remains ongoing. Currently, Gazprom is trying to settle with the EU to avoid a possible big fine. Last September, Gazprom sent a detailed note to the EC to seek a compromise. The EC directorate acts in response to companies alleging violations of competition law.

Murat Basboga