The Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition (APDC) has launched an investigation into Atyrau Oil Refinery LLP (AOR).
According to media reports, the investigation is being conducted over alleged price inflation for oil refining.
“The Department of the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the Atyrau Region has initiated an investigation into Atyrau Oil Refinery LLP (AOR), the basis for which was an analysis of price dynamics and production (sales) volumes in the oil refining commodity market,” the statement said.
It is noted that during the analysis, APDC staff identified signs of abuse of a dominant position through the setting of monopolistically high prices for oil refining.
It has become known that from 2021 to 2023, the average price in this sector increased by 31%.
“It should be noted that the fact of setting a monopolistically high price is identified in the process of investigating possible violations of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of competition protection,” the APDC concluded.
Recall that in early January, information appeared online claiming that the Anti-Corruption Service had taken an interest in the General Director of AOR, Galymzhan Zhussanbayev, and his deputies, Raspekova and Yeskaliyev. The media alleged that the plant's management was suspected of accepting a bribe on an especially large scale (Part 4 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan).
Later, the AOR press service denied this information. The company reported that there were no official notices or requests from law enforcement authorities.