C. LLORENTE - Madrid
THE WORLD 15.03.2011 says that the English pay 1,600 million more per year for industry concentration The limited competition in Spain in the hydrocarbon sector and large margins they are enjoying oil companies like Repsol, Cepsa and BP are largely responsible for record levels of prices of petrol and diesel, according to a report the National Competition Commission (CNC) in a damning report released yesterday , which urges the Government, once and for all, take action.
The body chaired by Luis Berenguer estimated that the English are paying an extra cost of 1,600 million euros per year for motor fuels to our neighbors French or German, due to "serious competition problems" existing in the sector hydrocarbons.
At the end of 2010, Spain leads the ranking of EU countries with gas prices, before tax, higher. Only Denmark and Italy exceeded. It also stands as one of the member states with the most expensive diesel fuel.
The CNC has already made a similar report in 2009, which urged the Government to carry out a series measures to increase competition in the sector and thus put downward pressure on prices. However, the recommendations of the CNC fell on deaf ears and now a new much more comprehensive document, the agency says that, far from narrowing price differentials with Europe, they have worsened.
Thus, if in 2008 the price differential tax-free gas-95 in Spain before the euro was of 10.86 euros per liter, at the end of 2010, the difference amounted to 20.19, almost double.
"There are still serious competition to explain to a large extent, the maintenance of price levels before taxes higher than most countries of our environment, "the CNC decision, which noted significant deficiencies in the chain: the network of retail, wholesale, the scheme of existing refineries and transportation.
"Existence of structural barriers to entry and expansion of third operators contribute to the ongoing development of the oil already installed and relax the competitive pressure between them," says the body chaired by Berenguer.
This explains why, in recent years, far from improving the competence it has worsened. And, since 2008 have disappeared operators such as Agip, Erg, Esso, Total and Chevron-Cepsa likely reached an agreement to acquire its service stations.
The result is that the first two operators (Repsol and Cepsa) owns 55.2% of the market by 62.3% with BP. But in addition, Spain is one of the EU countries with the highest degree of concentration of refineries. The nine existing plants they allocate these three oil companies themselves.
The CNC report also CLH's position as sole supplier of pipeline transportation service allows this entity "to carry the monopoly price level," with the aggravating circumstance that the two main players are the Repsol and Cepsa shareholders, with the competitive advantages that this entails.
competence deficiencies hydrocarbon sector, as CNC, cause, well, what is called the reaction "rockets and feathers' and that meant that when crude prices rise, these increases are moved very quickly to the final prices paid by consumers. But if the price of a barrel lower, this effect moves so much slower to users.
After this negative prognosis, CNC Government once again reiterates the recommendations that were ignored in 2009, plus new ones, "as the current geopolitical tensions in oil markets, mean that the problems of the sector English hydrocarbons are more worrying. " In addition to measures to encourage new entrants. The agency urges the opening of more stations in major shopping centers and streamlining of licenses for the opening of new stations.
CNC's report was welcomed by consumer organizations, increasingly critical of the current fuel prices. Liter of gasoline set a new record last week at 1.32 euros.
Oil companies, meanwhile, backers Competition "lack of rigor" and say the report is "confused, demagogic and full of erroneous assumptions," informed industry sources.
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