Bulgaria to impose stricter measures on fuel retailers after fraud reports

Stricter control measures are to be imposed in Bulgaria's fuel retailing market in the wake of reports revealing irregularities at many gas stations, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has said.

Prime Minister Borisov has ordered that all gas stations replace custom seals before August 22, after a recent joint investigation by the Interior Ministry, the National Revenue Agency and the Customs Agency found that fuel measuring systems in many gas stations had been tampered with, according to The Sofia Globe.

“In some petrol stations, 40 per cent of the fuel was actually turpentine, and that without mentioning the amount of sulphur. The measurement probes are sealed in such a way that they can be taken out without breaking the seal, they are so loose that it is as if there is no seal,” Borissov told reporters.

The Prime Minister has asked the competition agency to investigate if there was a cartel-like network among gas stations in Bulgaria, with the agency due to make an assessment by today.

Finally, Borisov criticized the Ministry of Economy´s agencies who were responsible for monitoring the irregularities of the fuel retailing market, stating their actions in this matter were “debatable.” 

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