MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia’s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service has launched a probe into Gazprom’s oil product sales business, saying on Friday the company significantly cut gasoline sales on a local exchange.
The case was opened as the Russian government is considering measures to reduce gasoline exports amid rising gasoline prices.
The regulator (FAS) said Gazprom’s business had reduced sales of gasoline Ai-92 and Ai-95 at the St Petersburg commodity exchange from May 20 through to June 27 from its Surgut plant by 74% and 50% respectively, citing the exchange data.
“During periods of seasonal and increased demand, the FAS of Russia considers such actions to be unacceptable and contain signs of violation of antimonopoly legislation,” the regulator said in a statement.
Gazprom did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Olesya Astakhova; writing by Vladimir Soldatkin. Editing by Jane Merriman)
