It is studied a 3-dimensional Riemannian manifold equipped with a tensor structure of type (1, 1), whose third power is the identity. This structure has a circulant matrix with respect to some basis, i.e. the structure is circulant. On such a manifold a fundamental tensor by the metric and by the covariant derivative of the circulant structure is defined. An important characteristic identity for this tensor is obtained. It is established that the image of the fundamental tensor with respect to the usual conformal transformation satisfies the same identity. A Lie group as a manifold of the considered type is constructed and some of its geometrical characteristics are found