INGUSHETIA OFAS: “GAZPROM” AFFILIATED COMPANY PAID MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION RUB FINE

“Gazprom Gas-Distribution Nazran” JSC transferred to the federal budget more than 2.5 mil RUB as a fine imposed by the Ingushetia OFAS.

In May 2018 the competition authority fined “Gazprom Gas-Distribution Nazran” JSC over 5 million RUB for violating the antimonopoly law. In return, the gas distributor filed a petition to the Arbitration Court of the Ingushetia Republic asking to reduce the fine. The petitioner referred to loss-making operations in 2017. Having considered the petition, the Court reduced the fine to 2,585,384 RUB.

In January 2016, “Gazprom Gas-Distribution Nazran” JSC switched off gas supply to a private house in Sunzha and penalized the owner. According to the company’s arguments, the gas was switched off due to unauthorized gasification (connection) and other than intended use of gas. For instance, the private property was transferred for lease to an individual entrepreneur who used the received energy resource for the purposes of commercial operations, without a relevant contract with the gas distributor.

In the course of the investigation, the arguments of the shareholding company that the individual entrepreneur involved in dental activity, used natural gas for commercial purposes were not corroborated. Ingushetia OFAS found that actions of “Gazprom Gas-Distribution Nazran” JSC were unlawful and classified them as abusing dominance.

Ingushetia OFAS suppresses actions of entities with the dominant position that infringe the interests of small companies and put them under special control.