Gazprom gas station. Photo credit: Oliver grandfather / AFP / Profimedia
The Competition Committee Commission in Bulgaria (CPC) has approved a concentration from the retail sector of fuels, allowing Uni Energy, which holds the Avia gas stations, to purchase the NIS Petol Eood, informs the Bulgarian press, quoted by Agerpres.
In Bulgaria, NIS operates 23 gas stations under the Gazprom brand, holding 2.6% of the total fuel market and 1.9% of the retail market, in the first semester of 2025.
Gazprom announced last month that he had given up the entire 11.3% stake an action he held in the Serbian Energy Company Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), in the context of American sanctions aimed at the Russian energy sector.
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Following an investigation, the CPC concluded that the transaction will not significantly affect the competition in the retail segment of fuels, where there is a horizontal overlap between the activities of the companies.
The combined market share of Uni Energy and Nis Petol is minimal and remains below the level that could cause fears about competition. Many competitors operate both at national and regional levels, which ensures competitive pressures exerted on the new entity.
Currently, Avia manages 11 gas stations in Bulgaria. According to the Trade Register, in 2023 Uni Energy revenues were at 15.7 million levs, and the net profit at 302,000 Leva.
After the transaction is completed, Gazprom gas stations will be relaunched under a new brand: Avia.
