No. 9/2000 | 10-02-2000
OPCC has concluded that PKN ORLEN did exercise monopolistic practices
Under Art. 81 par. 1, item 2 of the Law on Public Trading of Securities dated 21 August, 1997 (Official Journal of Bills No 118, item 754 with the later amendments) The Management Board of Polski Koncern Naftowy S.A. wishes to announce that under decision No DDI 3 / 2000 dated 9th February 2000 The Polish Office for Protection of Competition and Consumers (OPCC) has, after carrying out a legal investigation initiated on 22nd September 1999, concluded that PKN S.A. did exercise monopolistic practices when setting gasoline and diesel prices in Poland during periods of 1999 which may have provided PKN S.A. with the opportunity to make “groundless” margins. The OPCC has ordered PKN S.A. to desist from these practices and imposed a fine of PLN 5 mln on PKN S.A., which is to be paid to the national budget. However, the OPCC also concluded that PKN S.A. was not guilty of cross subsidising its refining and petrochemicals activities at Plock. The Board of PKN S.A. strongly disagrees with the outcome of the OPCC’s investigation and intends to defend its position rigorously by lodging an appeal to the District Court in Warsaw (the Anti-trust Court) within two weeks.