OREANDA-NEWS. October 05, 2009. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Komi Republic (the Komi OFAS Russia) found that "Vorkutaugol" OJSC violated Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" (which prohibits abusing dominant position), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The Komi OFAS Russia discovered the violations in course of a scheduled inspection of "Vorkutaugol" OJSC.

The antimonopoly case against the company was initiated upon the facts of applying overrated tariffs to the counteragents for the services of cargo transportation by the branch rail tracks.

"Vorkutaugol" OJSC is included in the Register of economic entities that have dominant position on the market of cargo transportation by the rail tracks adjacent to the rail tracks of general use, controlled by "Russian Railways" OJSC.

The tariffs for railway transportation services, offered by the company, are government-regulated.

In 2006-2008 the Tariff Service of the Komi Republic set the tariffs for "Vorkutaugol" OJSC at 2.17 Rubles (without VAT) per ton/kilometer of transported cargo and from 1st February 2008 - 2.20 Rubles. However, in 2007 - 2008 the company applied overrated tariffs (from 5.7 to 16.72 per ton/kilometer) to some counteragents.

"Vorkutaugol" OJSC voluntarily eliminated the violations and their consequences. The company also paid unlawfully gained funds (around 22.16 million Rubles) to the affected companies.

The Komi OFAS Russia emphasizes that it is not the first time when "Vorkutaugol" OJSC has abused its dominant position applying unlawful tariffs. Those circumstances can be taken into account to determine the "turnover fine" for the committed violations.