CADE condemns cartel of fuel in Rio Grande do Sul

The Administrative Council for Economic Defense – CADE condemned, in the trial session of this Wednesday (6/19), eight gas stations (Administrative Process nº 08012.004573/2004-17) and seven people (Administrative Process nº 08012.007149/2009-39) for cartel activity in the fuel retailer sector in the city of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul.

In the range of evidence of the cartel formation, there are recorded conversations, in January 2004, through legally authorized telephone interceptions, and economic studies made by the National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Bio-fuel Agency – ANP and by the Secretariat of the Economic Monitoring Department of the Ministry of Finances – SEAE.

The overall fines imposed amount approximately to BRL 19 millions.