Albania Fuel Importers Slam “Market Monopolization”

Tirana, Jan. 8, 2009 – An association of fuel importers protested harshly against the government on Wednesday about what they call “the monopolization of the core market in energy product” from the sole refinery in the country “ARMO”.
ARMO which currently control 25 per cent of the fuel market in the country, was privatized last year for EUR 128.7 million.
“Government is helping ARMO for every think, from the low price of domestic crude oil to lower tax and asymmetric environmental conditions that create a defacto monopoly in the market”, the association said in a statement.
Government of Albania decided last year to ban for “the protection of the environment” imports of low quality diesel. In the same time, the low quality diesel produced by ARMO refinery will continue to be sold in the market, thus deteriorating market conditions for importers. Importers believe that the union between the sole petroleum producer in the country and one of the biggest importers that resulted by the privatization of ARMO, will create a defacto monopoly in the market.
ARMO, was privatized late last year by a consortium headed by Anika Enterprises, a Swiss based company controlled by Albanian businesman Rezart Taci, who is also is one the largest importers in the country through Taci Oil.