Filling station

Less than 1% of the flow meters checked at Bulgarian filling stations over the past three days have been found to be either tampered with or showing incorrect readings, the Economy Ministry said on Sunday.

Part of forthcoming inspections at petrol stations will be surprising so that the state performs successfully its functions in the fuel market, Deputy Prime Minister Domislav Donchev has said.

The head of the Bulgarian Customs Agency Vanyo Tanov hinted on Friday at the possible existence of price cartel between the petrol stations in the country.

According to Tanov, the price of a liter of petrol including excise duties and VAT was BGN 1.8, so the difference in the final prices found at petrol stations hinted of a cartel.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov called for urgent measures imposing stricter control on the trade with fuels after an inspection last week established serious violations by petrol stations.

The Commission for Protection of Competition (KZK) has launched a sector analysis of the fuel retailing market in Bulgaria.

The watchdog will check for cartel agreements or abuse of dominant position.

In 2011 the antitrust watchdog approved a sector analysis of the gasoline and diesel fuel markets in Bulgaria spanning the period 2009-2011.

Some 2,000 of 13,000 fuel stations in Turkey have been put up for sale as the renewal date for usufruct right contracts approaches in the sector amid complaints about low profits following a recent regulation limiting the expiry dates of usufruct contracts to five years from 15-20 years. 

10 000 liters of diesel fuel have been withdrawn from the market following inspections by a regional unit of Bulgaria's State Agency for Metrological and Technical Surveillance at filling stations on the territory of the Silistra municipality.

The inspections were conducted in the period June 22-25, according to a media statement of the Agency.

BP Turkey will open 40 new fuel stations in Turkey this year, despite making losses at the moment, BP Turkey manager Martin Thomsen said in a June 26 press meeting with Do?u? Automotive to announce a joint campaign. 

Turkish Do?an Holding has said one of its units placed a non-binding bid on the Turkish fuel distribution business of French oil producer Total. 

The owner of a gas station in the town of Edipsos on Evia on Tuesday confirmed reports regarding two incidents involving Parliament Speaker Zoe Constantopoulou over the Greek Orthodox Easter weekend.

According to reports in local media, Constantopoulou visited the gas station on Sunday and demanded that one of her vehicle?s tires be replaced.