Verkhovna Rada deputies summoned the head of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine to report on alleged fraud in the fuel market
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has decided to summon the Chairman of the Antimonopoly Committee, Pavlo Kyrylenko, to the session hall to provide explanations regarding the situation on the petroleum products market. The reason for this step was the rapid increase in fuel prices and suspicions of a possible anti-competitive conspiracy between large gas station chains.
The corresponding initiative was supported by 157 people’s deputies, which allowed the head of the department to be officially invited to a parliamentary session.
According to the approved schedule, the Chairman of the Antimonopoly Committee is to appear in the Verkhovna Rada on April 8 at 12:00. Deputies expect to hear a detailed report on the results of inspections of fuel companies. In particular, parliamentarians are interested in whether the facts of collusion between market participants have been confirmed and whether the state institution has taken all necessary measures to stabilize prices and protect consumer rights.
“The AMCU Chairman was invited to report on whether there was collusion in the market, and whether the state did everything necessary to resolve the situation,” the Verkhovna Rada office emphasized.
This is not the first visit by the head of the agency to parliament on this issue. During the previous meeting a month and a half ago, Pavlo Kyrylenko was unable to provide an unambiguous answer regarding the presence of abuses by traders or artificial overestimation of fuel prices against the backdrop of a shortage. According to the people’s deputies, this period was sufficient for the committee to complete the analysis of the market situation and prepare final conclusions.
“A month and a half has passed since then, so the committee should already have its conclusions”, the people’s deputies emphasized during the discussion.
The legislators’ concern is due to the current price dynamics. As of early April, the cost of diesel fuel in Ukraine has increased by several hryvnias, in some places approaching the mark of 90 hryvnias per liter. A similar trend is observed in the liquefied gas segment. This situation creates an additional financial burden on citizens and businesses, which requires immediate intervention by regulatory authorities.
The issue of providing the country with petroleum products is under the control of the highest state leadership. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the monthly need of the state, including the needs of the army, is about 700 thousand tons.
The official assured that there are currently clear agreements on fuel supplies for a year in advance, which should guarantee the country’s energy security despite price fluctuations on world markets.
