YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. By the November 8 decision of the RA State Commission on Protection of Economic Competition, out of the 7 Armenian gasoline importing companies, Flash and City Petrol Service were recognized as having a dominating position on the "gasoline" commodity market. The decision is made based on the fact that in the first half of this year, gasoline sale by these companies made up 44.1% and 40.4% respectively. It was noted that 71,747.4 tons of gasoline was imported into Armenia in the first half of 2006. Flash was also recofnized as having a dominating position on the diesel fuel market, as in the first half of 2006, 38.8% of the total sale on the diesel fuel market was done by this company. In the indicated period, 42,653.4 tons of diesel fuel was sold by 11 economic entities importing diesel fuel. Deputy Director of Flash company Mushegh Elchian said that quite large sums are necessary for the import and storing of gasoline. Particularly, 5-6 million dollars is needed for transportation of a ship loaded with gasoline, and 4-4.5 million - for a ship with diesel fuel. According to him, 3-4 companies, including Mika Ltd, refused to import gasoline. M. Elchian noted that since September 1 until now, the price of a liter of gasoline has declined from 390 drams (about a dollar) to 330 drams, and the price is expected to fall by another 10 drams soon.

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