Dec 17 (Reuters) - Australia's competition watchdog said

on Tuesday it has taken Exxon Mobil's ( XOM ) local brand

affiliate to court, claiming it misled customers about fuel sold

at six of its branded petrol stations in Queensland.

Mobil is a petroleum brand owned and operated by American

oil and gas corporation Exxon Mobil ( XOM ).

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)

alleges that Mobil falsely represented that its "Mobil Synergy"

contained certain additives, when it did not.

"Consumers have no way of verifying the claims made about

the fuel they put into their tank and rely on the accuracy of

claims made by the fuel supplier," the ACCC Commissioner Liza

Carver said.

The firm further incorrectly claimed that the fuel sold at

these petrol stations had a different quality or composition

compared to fuel at its other sites, and contained certain extra

benefits, the ACCC added.

"This conduct, which is isolated to six sites representing

less than 1% of the entire Mobil-branded network, occurred as a

result of a number of operational difficulties, including

unanticipated delays associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and

related supply issues, as well as the remote location of the

sites involved," a Mobil spokesperson told Reuters.

Exxon Mobil Australia, in an email to Reuters, said it had

accepted the ACCC proceedings and has co-operated fully with the

regulator during its investigation.

The firm said it is taking steps to ensure it does not

engage in similar conduct going forward.