Rabat – Oil companies operating in the diesel and gasoline markets are to face further sanctions for non-compliance with competition regulations, said Competition Council President Ahmed Rahhou.
Rahhou’s statement comes after a comprehensive evaluation revealed alleged anticompetitive practices among nine implicated oil firms involved in the supply, storage, and distribution of diesel and gasoline.
The competition council flagged the practices as contrary to established laws, restricting market access and impeding fair competition in price formation.
Last month, the nine fuel companies were fined a collective $180 million, and committed to filing regular reports to the Competition Council for the next five years among other measures.
In an interview with local media reported by Morocco’s News Agency (MAP), Rahhou stressed that the monitoring processes will be stringent, with necessary reminders and, if required, punitive actions against those unwilling to adhere to the decisions.
The ongoing probe stems from a report released in August 2023 that identified several anti-trust practices committed by fuel companies in Morocco. According to Rahhou, the flagged companies have expressed their intent to engage in a conciliation procedure as per Article 37 of the competition law, seeking a transactional resolution for the disputes.
While underscoring the council’s desire for swift resolutions without resorting to prolonged legal battles, Rahhou pointed out that the conciliation process, if agreed upon, mandates immediate commitments from the involved parties.
Such settlements, once reached, would take immediate effect, ensuring faster closure of cases compared to court procedures that might involve lengthy judicial appeals.
The evaluation process for potential fines, which could amount to MAD 1.84 billion ($180 million), relies on legal frameworks limiting penalties to a maximum of 10% of a single year’s turnover in litigation scenarios.
Rahhou clarified that deductions from the total turnover of these oil companies are made for activities unrelated to the ongoing investigations. The fines, once determined, will be immediately payable to the State.
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