OREANDA-NEWS. September 9, 2008. Novocherkassk hosted a solemn unveiling ceremony of a memorial bust of the Hero of the Soviet Union, the founder and the first leader of the Gas Industry Ministry of the USSR – Alexey Kirillovich Kortunov. The event took place as part of the celebration of a 100-year anniversary of A. K. Kortunov’s birth.

The ceremony was attended by Vladimir Chirskov, President of the Russian Oil and Gas Constructors Union, a Gazprom delegation, Anatoly Volkov, Mayor of Novocherkassk, representatives of the Rostov Oblast authorities, gas industry veterans of and A. Kortunov’s family members.

In the course of a solemn rally the participants emphasized the special role of A. Kortunov in the creation of the USSR gas industry. Under his direction the gas industry formed as a leading branch in the national energy sector. The unique gas fields were pre-developed in the shortest time possible, almost 100,000 km of gas mains were put into operation, the major part of the national UGSS was formed. Over the years of A. Kortunov’s work the share of gas in the USSR fuel mix reached 19.5 per cent.