European Union member Lithuania said Tuesday it has asked Brussels to probe Russian gas giant OAO Gazprom for abusing its market clout, saying such muscle-flexing must end.
European Union member Lithuania said Tuesday it has asked Brussels to probe Russian gas giant OAO Gazprom for abusing its market clout, saying such muscle-flexing must end.

"The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania launched a complaint with the European Commission, requesting it investigate the abuse of dominant position by the Russian gas supplier Gazprom," a government statement said.

It said the goal was to "ensure that terms and conditions for supply of natural gas to Lithuania were determined solely by economic considerations."

To do so, it said, the commission should order Gazprom to apply "transparent, reasonable and non-discriminatory conditions."

The Brussels-based commission is the executive body of the 27-nation EU, and polices its trade and competition rules.

"Huge fines, in the millions, were imposed on companies like Intel or Microsoft for using a monopolistic situation for their benefit and for breaching consumer interests," Lithuania 's Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas told reporters Tuesday.

"Gazprom is no exception. But it's the commission's prerogative to decide what measures have to be used. Our goal isn't to punish Gazprom, our goal is to ensure the security of supply, and energy independence," he said.

Lithuania and Gazprom are battling over Vilnius 's drive to respect EU energy market reform rules by "unbundling" the country's gas system, separating bulk supply from that piped to consumers.

Currently, Gazprom is Lithuania 's sole supplier and also has a 37.1% share in its gas distributor Lietuvos Dujos AB (LDJ1L.LV).

Gazprom and another major Lietuvos Dujos stakeholder-- Germany 's E.ON Ruhrgas International from--have pressed Lithuania to ask Brussels for an exemption from gas market reform rules, but Vilnius has refused.

Sekmokas said the government would table a reform law at parliament's spring session, which starts in March.

Gazprom has reportedly said it would deny Lithuania gas discounts offered to neighboring nations.

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