AGU sues fuel distributors and stations for abusive price hikes

The Brazilian Attorney General's Office (AGU) has filed multiple civil public actions against fuel distributors and service stations for alleged abusive pricing practices. The legal actions include four lawsuits against distributors and 16 against retail stations operating in states such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, and the Distrito Federal.

The AGU is seeking R$ 63.8 million in compensation for collective moral damages. These legal measures are based on technical findings from the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) and the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon), which identified unjustified increases in commercial margins despite federal efforts to mitigate the effects of the international oil crisis.

In one specific instance, the gross commercialization margin per liter reportedly increased by more than 1,350% without a corresponding rise in acquisition costs. The AGU is requesting that the courts prohibit these unjustified price hikes under penalty of fines and ensure that any compensation is directed to the Fund for the Defense of Diffuse Rights (FDD).