BRUSSELS, June 25 (Reuters) - The European Commission fined a number of producers of aluminium fluoride, used to smelt aluminium, 4.97 million euros ($7.74 million) on Wednesday for fixing prices over six months in 2000 in violation of antitrust laws.
Aluminium fluoride lowers the smelting temperature of aluminium, reducing energy consumption in the smelting process.
The cartel came to light because Boliden Odda of Norway blew the whistle. It was not fined.
Florsid of Italy, in combination with Minmet Financing Co of Switzerland, was fined 1.6 million euros.
Societe des Industries Chemic de Fluo of Tunisia was fined 1.7 million euros and Industrial Quimica of Mexico, along with QB Industrias of Mexico, 1.67 million euros.
The Commission said the cartel began on July 12, 2000 and ended on Dec. 31 of the same year. Its short duration explained the relatively small fine, it said. (Reporting by David Lawsky, editing by Jeremy Smith)
($1=.6419 euro)
Source: Reuters
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