Ampol’s bid to fuel its retail empire has been given the green light, but the competition regulator made sure it didn’t run on empty promises.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has approved Ampol’s purchase of EG Australia on the condition that Ampol first sell 41 of its fuel sites to another buyer.
Ampol (ASX: ALD) runs 576 Ampol-branded service stations and 46 U-GO self-service fuel sites. EG Australia, which took over Woolworths’ petrol stations in April 2019, operates 512 sites across the country.
Why the ACCC stepped in
The ACCC found the deal would reduce competition at 41 sites where Ampol and EG Australia stations were located close to each other across 39 areas of the country.
ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams said the regulator was mindful of the impact on everyday motorists.
“The ACCC was concerned the acquisition could materially reduce competition and reduce choice for Australian motorists. We are very conscious of community concern about fuel prices and cost of living, and we are continuing to closely monitor and report on the fuel industry,” Williams said.
Ampol first offered to sell 19 sites to address the regulator’s concerns, then raised that number to 41 before the ACCC made its final decision.
Dr Philip Williams
Metro Petroleum takes over the sites
Metro Petroleum, which already runs more than 300 service stations across Australia, will take ownership of the 41 sites. The ACCC said this would maintain a genuine competitor in each affected area.
“We believe Metro Petroleum’s acquisition of the divested sites would result in the creation, or expansion, of a strong, independent and viable long-term competitor in the 39 local markets,” Williams said.
The ACCC also fast-tracked approval for Metro Petroleum to buy the sites, meaning no further regulatory sign-off is required before the handover.
“Our ability to expedite Metro Petroleum’s waiver application was facilitated by our in-depth investigation of the Ampol acquisition, which demonstrates how the remedy and notification processes can be managed efficiently in the new merger regime,” Williams said.
About the approvals process
The deal was assessed under Australia’s mandatory merger approval rules, which started on 1 January 2026. Under those rules, companies above certain size thresholds must get ACCC sign-off before completing a purchase.
You can read the ACCC’s full decision here.