Milan, Sept. 26 (LaPresse) – “The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) has closed the investigation against Eni, Esso, Ip, Iplom, Q8, Saras, and Tamoil (the latter also regarding Repsol’s conduct, now acquired by Tamoil), the major oil companies operating in Italy. The Authority found an anti-competitive agreement in the sale of automotive fuel among all parties, except for Iplom and Repsol. For this reason, the companies were fined a total of €936,659,087.” The note specifies: “Eni was fined €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 the complex investigation, initiated after a whistleblower’s complaint, it emerged that Eni, Esso, Ip, Q8, Saras, and Tamoil coordinated to determine the value of the bio-component included in the fuel price (a component introduced to comply with regulatory obligations). The cartel began on January 1, 2020, and lasted until June 30, 2023. The value of this important price component increased from around €20/mc in 2019 to approximately €60/mc in 2023.
According to the Antitrust Authority, the companies implemented simultaneous price increases—largely coinciding—resulting from direct or indirect exchanges of information between the involved firms. The cartel was facilitated by the publication of the exact value of the bio-component in numerous articles in 'Staffetta Quotidiana,' a well-known industry newspaper, also thanks to information sent directly by Eni to the newspaper,” the note concludes.
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