France fines TotalEnergies, Rubis, EG Group $217m for Corsica anti-trust violations

Core Viewpoint - France's anti-trust authority has fined TotalEnergies, Rubis, and EG Group a total of €187.5 million ($217.3 million) for anti-competitive practices that resulted in higher fuel prices in Corsica [1] Group 1: Investigation and Findings - The fine follows an investigation into agreements that restricted access to fuel depots in Corsica, initiated after a complaint from Ferrandi, a competing fuel distributor, in 2022 [2] - The investigation revealed that from 2016 to 2023, no other companies were permitted to use the fuel depots owned by TotalEnergies, Rubis, and EG Group [2] Group 2: Regulatory Statement - The regulator stated that the exclusive use of Corsican fuel depots by DPLC shareholders is anti-competitive and harms consumers by limiting competition [3] - TotalEnergies contends that the authority's findings lack "tangible evidence" of any anti-competitive impact on the island [3] Group 3: Company Response - TotalEnergies claims the decision is based solely on a 2016 contractual clause regarding access to the depots for shareholders, and that non-shareholders also had access to a fuel supply arrangement [4] - The company expressed regret that the authority did not acknowledge the absence of adverse effects on local distributors or consumers, highlighting its long-standing service in Corsica and recent price reductions [5] - TotalEnergies plans to appeal the decision in the Paris Court of Appeal, asserting that it has not engaged in anti-competitive practices [6]