The Romanian Competition Council has launched (28 November) an investigation into the National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management (NIHWM) over alleged abuse of its dominant position in the hydrological data market.
The NIHWM, the sole provider of data essential for ecological flow studies, is accused of restricting access to its databases, potentially eliminating competition in the market for calculating hydrological flows. These studies are crucial for determining the minimum water flow required to sustain aquatic ecosystems downstream of dams and reservoirs.
The investigation follows a complaint from a company active in water flow studies. Unannounced inspections, approved by the Bucharest Court of Appeal, were conducted at NIHWM’s headquarters to gather relevant documents.
The Competition Council emphasized that these inspections are preliminary and do not imply a violation of competition laws at this stage. The analysis of the seized materials is ongoing.
Source: https://www.consiliulconcurentei.ro/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Eng-Hidro-nov-2024.pdf
