2024-03-22 03:22:00
After the announcement of the fine imposed on hydrocarbon operators by the competition council in Morocco, indignation is brewing. Joining the chorus of denouncers, Transparency Morocco spoke out once morest what it describes as a decision “injuste and not transparente “. This reaction from the organization reflects growing concerns regarding the integrity of the regulatory process and fairness in the hydrocarbon sector.
On November 23, 2023, the Competition Council made a decision that shook the industry. Nine companies operating in the fuel and gasoline supply, storage and distribution markets were forced to enter into a settlement agreement, requiring them to pay a considerable amount of 1,840,410,426 dirhams in settlement. However, Transparency Morocco quickly raised questions regarding the way in which this fine was distributed between the different entities concerned, denouncing a blatant lack of transparency.
In a press release, Transparency Maroc highlighted several shortcomings in the decision of the Competition Council. First of all, the organization emphasized that “ the settlement agreement did not transparently specify the share of the fine awarded to each individual company, in violation of Article 166 of the Constitution which requires full transparency in such cases “. Furthermore, the organization deplored the fact that “ the criteria used to determine the amount of the fine were not publicly disclosed, in contradiction with the principles of transparency and fairness set out in the Law on Freedom of Prices and Competition ».
Transparency Maroc also pointed out the lack of publication of the details of the settlement, saying that there were no trade secrets to protect in this matter and that transparency should have prevailed. Furthermore, the organization recalled » the damning conclusions of a parliamentary commission of inquiry into fuel prices, highlighting the absence of accompanying measures for the liberalization of the market, which would have allowed the manipulation of sales prices outside the framework of the competition ».
The heart of the problem lies in the fact that, according to Transparency Maroc, “ the profits accumulated by fuel distribution companies exceed the amount of the transactional fine. Based on parliamentary estimates and previous reports from the Competition Council, the organization revealed that these profits amounted to more than 60 billion dirhams over eight years, or more than thirty times the amount of the fine. imposed ».
Additionally, Transparency Maroc criticized the six-year delay in making a decision in this case, despite repeated warnings and suspicions of price manipulation. This slowness in resolving the problem has tainted “ the credibility of the Competition Council and undermined public confidence in the institutions responsible for protecting consumer interests ».
In a call to action, Transparency Morocco urged the Court of Auditors to investigate corrupt practices in the hydrocarbon sector and take decisive action in accordance with the law. The organization stressed the importance of restoring public trust by ensuring transparent and fair competition in the hydrocarbon sector, and holding companies accountable for their actions.
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