Energy governance is a set of formal and informal processes, institutions, and mechanisms that are designed and implemented with the aim of regulating the interactions of various actors in the energy supply chain. In the first part of this research, a theoretical framework has been developed through documentary and library methods. Another part of this article examines the Russian nuclear energy governance system through the “case study” method.
The findings of the article show that Russia has been able to create an appropriate separation of duties and authorities in the nuclear energy sector at three levels of policy-making, regulation, and service provision. The policy-making level is mainly in the hands of upstream government and legislative institutions such as the Federal Presidency, the State Duma, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The regulation level is also in the hands of independent regulatory bodies and specialized organizations such as the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision, the Ministry of Environment, the Non-Profit Market Council, and the Federal Antimonopoly Service, which are responsible for tasks such as ensuring safety, standardization, issuing licenses, regulating the market, and the tariff system. Finally, the service provision level is in the hands of State-owned Company Rosatom and its subsidiaries. Creating a three-layer structure with a clear separation of duties and authorities between policymaking, regulation and service provision is one of the most important lessons that is also recommended for the Iranian nuclear industry.