The total value of the 10 contracts signed by the state company amounts to approximately EUR 8 M.
The Competition Council (CC) made inspections at the offices of 13 companies that participated in public acquisition procedures organized by Transgaz Medias in 2011, as part of an investigation regarding a possible arrangement between the respective companies to participate with rigged offers in tenders. “The unannounced inspections took place as part of the investigation launched by the Competition Council regarding a possible arrangement between companies, to participate with rigged offers in 10 tenders organized by Transgaz Medias during 2011,” CC announced in a press release, realitatea.net informs. The 13 companies under investigation are: Inspet, Condmag Brasov, Trustul de Montaj Utilaj Chimic Bucuresti (TMUCB), Rominsta, Moldocor, CIS GAZ, Armax, Armax Gaz, Pegamont, Ecrpod, Amarad, Posada Med and Staza Invest. The total value of the 10 contracts signed by Transgaz with the winners of the tenders amounts to approximately EUR 8 M. According to CC, the Competition Law prohibits any arrangement between companies, decisions of company associations that have as object or effect preventing, restricting or twisting the competition, especially in relation to the joint participation, with rigged offers, in tenders or any other forms of contests for offers. If CC finds that the rules of competition have been infringed, the respective companies risk being fined up to 10 pc of their turnover.
In 2012, CC fined Condmag, Inspet, Moldocor and TMUCB up to a total value of RON 25.5 M (about EUR 5.6 M) for rigging two tenders held by Transgaz in view of awarding contracts for gas fittings during 2009-2011.
The sanctions were dictated as part of an investigation over a possible arrangement between companies to participate with rigged offers in the tenders organized by Transgaz during 2009-2011, in view of awarding contracts for natural gas fittings. Condmag and Inspet were fined RON 4,548,658 (EUR 1 M) and, respectively, RON 7,296,204 (EUR 1.6 M) for reaching an arrangement on participating with rigged offers in the public acquisition procedure “Natural gas fitting Butimanu-Brazi for supplying gas to the Brazi Cogeneration Plant,” held in 2009.
