The stations, which operate in the capital of Karakalpakstan, were inspected following a complaint from a consumer, the committee said.
The investigation found that all 22 stations had raised CNG prices at the same time. The committee classified the conduct as coordinated anti-competitive activity and initiated proceedings over violations of Article 19 of the Law on Competition.
A special commission imposed financial penalties on the operators and issued binding orders requiring them to remedy the violations and prevent similar conduct in the future.
Nine of the businesses challenged the commission’s decision in court. The courts upheld the legality of the committee’s rulings.
The Competition Committee said it would continue monitoring the domestic market to identify coordinated anti-competitive practices among businesses.
