The Italian Competition Authority has fined Eni, Esso, Ip, Iplom, Q8, Saras, and Tamoil (the latter also with reference to the pipelines of Repsol, which it has now acquired), the most important oil companies operating in Italy, over €900 million .
The Antitrust Authority has found an agreement restricting competition in the sale of automotive fuel for all parties except Iplom and Repsol . For this reason, it has fined the companies a total of €936,659,087. Specifically: Eni €336,214,660, Esso €129,363,561, Ip €163,669,804, Q8 €172,592,363, Saras €43,788,944, and Tamoil €91,029,755 .
Following a complex investigation, initiated following a whistleblower's complaint, a statement reads, "it emerged that Eni, Esso, Ip, Q8, Saras, and Tamoil coordinated to determine the value of the bio-based component included in the price of fuel (a component introduced by the companies to comply with obligations under current legislation). The cartel began on January 1, 2020, and continued until June 30, 2023. The value of this important price component increased from approximately €20/m3 in 2019 to approximately €60/m3 in 2023. "
According to the Antitrust Authority, "the companies implemented simultaneous price increases—mostly coincidental—driven by direct or indirect exchanges of information between the companies involved. The cartel was facilitated by the disclosure of the precise value of the organic component in numerous articles published in "Staffetta Quotidiana," a well-known industry newspaper, thanks in part to information sent directly by Eni to the newspaper."
(Unioneonline)
