Competition Restraints in the Fuel Market – Opinion for the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources

The opinion calls on the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources to push for amendments to the provisions of the Planning Act No. 123/2010, so that it is explicitly stated that competition considerations must be taken into account in the implementation of the Act.

There is considerable variation in whether and how competition considerations are taken into account in planning and the allocation of plots. Although the ministry has interpreted the law to mean that municipalities must take competition considerations into account when planning and allocating plots, at least the City of Reykjavík has not considered itself obliged to do so. For these reasons, the Competition Authority considers it important that the minister pushes for the aforementioned changes.

This opinion is one of four opinions published in connection with a market study of the fuel market, in which recommendations are made to public authorities to promote improved competitive conditions in the fuel market.