Image: Volker Weihbold
“Since October, an entire industry with thousands of employees has been under general suspicion,” complained the industry representative proPellets Austria today. In any case, it is not true that objections from the pellet suppliers are to blame for the long duration of the procedure. “orf.at” reported today that a court objection from a Carinthian company delayed the investigation. “In Carinthia, there was no house search at any pellet factory, so an objection is not possible at all,” proPellets then said in a broadcast.
“Clear up unfounded allegations”
Christian Rakos, Managing Director of proPellets Austria, emphasized today that the prices for pellets have not fallen since October because of the investigations by the Federal Competition Authority, “but because the situation on the energy markets has calmed down and the demand for pellets has also normalized”. “We continue to be available to the Federal Competition Authority with all documents and information if it serves to quickly clarify what we consider to be unfounded allegations,” said Rakos.
According to the Supreme Court, searches were legal
The pellet industry has already defended itself legally against the house searches. In February this year, the Supreme Court (OGH) ruled that the searches on suspicion of the formation of a pellets cartel were legal. An affected group of companies had previously lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court, according to which there was no justified initial suspicion.
“Due to the appeal lodged, the secured data was kept sealed by the BWB. The Supreme Court has now created clarity and the data can be evaluated,” said the interim Director General of the BWB, Natalie Harsdorf-Borsch, at the time on the Supreme Court decision.
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