Mexico: PEMEX TRI monopolistic practices denounced at COFECE

Pemex Transformación Industrial (Pemex TRI), a subsidiary of the Mexico´s State-owned oil giant, was denounced on Thursday before the Federal Commission for Economic Competition (COFECE) for allegedly conducting monopolistic practices in the LP gas market.

Cruz Pérez Cuellar, Senator of the National Regeneration Movement party (Morena) for the state of Chihuahua, denounced Pemex TRI for allegedly entering into agreements with LP gas distribution companies in Tepejí del Río, Hidalgo, through which it has granted unjustified discounts and exclusive advantages in the purchase of fuel.

“Today I presented one of several complaints that we will be presenting on the issue of ‘white-collar pipe tapping,” said the senator during a press conference. “It turns out that Pemex gives a discount to the main gas companies in the country, but that discount is not transferred to the final consumer,” he added.

After receiving the complaint, COFECE must prove whether there are sufficient elements to launch an investigation. If so, the agency will have up to five periods of 120 days to complete the investigation, that is, about two years. Last February, the agency announced the start of an investigation into the LP gas market, although no further details have emerged.