The German energy group RWE and the Anglo-Dutch group SHELL have decided to unit their refinery activities and their networks of petrol stations in Germany to give rise to a new number one in the sector in the country. The agreement, which will enter into force next 1 July, was concluded between RWE-DEA, oil subsidiary of RWE, and SHELL DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, German subsidiary of SHELL. The partners will gather the activities in question within a joint venture equally held and named SHELL & DEA OIL, which will have a turnover of EUR 35 billion. With 3,200 service stations and a refining capacity of 34 million tonnes, it will have a market share of 24% in the distribution in Germany ahead of ARAL. The agreement foresees that SHELL could, either way take control of the company as of 2004 by increasing its stake to 51%. Furthermore, SHELL and the Russian electricity monopoly SEU have announced an alliance to study common investment possibilities in the Russian energy sector.