Government and the private energy sector in Russia: a brief review of the literature

Abstract

A symbiotic relationship exists between the Russian state and Russian energy companies that often leads to conflicting institutional relationships between the state and private energy sector. The best example of this complicated relationship between the state and free markets is the case of the Russian energy giant, Gazprom. With the decline in the company's gas production and competitiveness in the Russian gas market, the Russian government may need to restructure Gazprom's relations with independents to prevent it from strategically blocking important projects. Such a scenario calls for a much-needed re-evaluation of the conflicting institutional relationships between the Russian state and Gazprom. This literature review brings together key concepts playing a role in the relationship between Gazprom and the Russian state, effectively laying the foundation for future research to gain deeper insights into the future of one of the worlds largest energy companies.