In Romania, the Competition Council fined 6 companies, with 521,000 euros, for rigging some tenders organized by CE Oltenia and CET Govora

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1. The Competition Council announced on Thursday that it sanctioned six companies with fines totaling 2.52 million lei (approximately 521,000 euros) for cheating some tenders organized by Societatea Complexul Energetic Oltenia SA and Centrala Electrică de Termoficare Govora SA, during April 2017 – February 2019, for the purchase of rollers and roller garlands.

   The fines were applied as follows:

   Upipsa SRL 130,453.51 lei;

   Axa Company SRL 222,352.96 lei;

   Uzina Rominex SRL 486,646.74 lei;

   Uzitmet Industry SRL 795,925.21 lei;

   Prelmet SA 58,984.94 lei;

   Industrial Repairs and Installation of Excavators X SRL 826,723.23 lei.

   Following an investigation, the competition authority found that the six companies formed partnerships in order to participate with a joint bid in 12 public procurement procedures organized by Complexul Energetic Oltenia SA and Centrala Electrică de Termoficare Govora SA between April 2017 and February 2019. Practically, in most of the procurement procedures, from April 2017 to February 2019 there was no competition, because the only bidder was the association of five or six companies involved.

   This in the conditions in which on the occasion of other public procurement procedures organized by the two contracting entities before and after the period mentioned above, as well as at those organized by Complexul Energetic Hunedoara S.A. In the period 2016-2020, the companies competed, participating either with an individual offer or in associations made up of fewer members.

   The investigation was launched in 2019, following the notification of the Oltenia SA Energy Complex.

   Please note that the association of companies is permitted by public procurement and competition law, unless it is intended to eliminate or restrict competition.

   Translated in from Romanian to English. Source: https://economedia.ro/consiliul-concurentei-a-amendat-cu-25-milioane-lei-sase-companii-care-au-trucat-licitatii-organizate-de-societatea-complexul-energetic-oltenia.html