Investigation clears BP of petrol price-fixing claims

By SCOTT MACLEOD

The Commerce Commission has cleared BP of claims that it tried to fix fuel prices.

Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton alleged last month that an oil firm had offered incentives to independent retailers in return for setting prices at the pump.

Mr Anderton said at the time that he had given papers to the commission after being advised that the practice was legally dubious.

It is illegal under the Commerce Act to offer incentives and take other actions to reduce price competition or to collude to fix prices.

The commission's manager of the Commerce Act division, Geoff Thorn, said an investigation completed just before Christmas found nothing wrong with BP's "pricing support" programme.

"There was no evidence of price fixing."

BP managing director Peter Griffiths said he was disappointed that Mr Anderton aired the allegations during the inquiry.

"We were forced to defend ourselves in the media from erroneous accusations when clearly we were acting legally."