This year the prominent Baku native and scientist, Sabit Orudzhev, would have celebrated his 100th birthday. He was the minister of the gas industry of the USSR from 1972 to 1981. His ministry raised the USSR's gas production to a record level – 800 billion cubic meters annually. This record hasn’t been beaten yet, and Orudzhayev remained the only man in the world to head a ministry which produced so much gas. Vestnik Kavkaza publishes a series of memories of Orudzhev’s colleagues about him and his reforms.
Sabit Orudzhev came to the Ministry of the Gas Industry in 1972, and in the same year the Ministry was divided. The organization headed by Orudzhev then was engaged in mining, processing, transportation and storage of gas. The new minister immediately started to reorganize the department. Due to this, the leadership became closer to production, flexibility and control increased, and resources were used more efficiently and effectively. The management structure created by Orudzhev remained unchanged until 1989, when the state gas company "Gazprom” was formed. In the 1970s, the country was in need of "blue fuel", but the fields in Western Siberia were put into operation very slowly.This meant that it was necessary to use new, more technologically-advanced means. Orudzhev was one of those people who were able to detect the problem and develop its efficient solution.
In the same year of 1972, Vladimir Dolgikh became Secretary of the CPSU. "With the discovery of large gas fields in Western Siberia, the question arose of creating a special ministry of the gas industry, the head of which was appointed Orudzhev,” Dolgikh says. “He headed the ministry as a business, organized the management structure, found personnel, formed the management team of Mingasprom. The birth of a new ministry sets tasks of a larger scale than work with an existing ministry. And from this point of view, Orudzhev distinguished himself as an organizer,a hard and firm leader who was able to prove his case that money was needed.
During the 8 years of his work, the industry more than doubled the volume of its production, pipeline construction was completed, interaction with other industries gained a broader and deeper character, from the point of view of science and mechanization advanced technologies were introduced.
Power plants and some enterprises began to use gas fuel. It was not always right but, in some cases, the arrival of natural gas has become critical in the development of the company and changed the level of productivity. With the arrival of Orudzhev, gas processing and petrochemical complexes began to be built and had a huge impact on the development of the Soviet economy. In forming economic policy, Orudzhev acted not only as a minister of the gas industry. He was bursting with initiatives and ideas, including technical ones. He took the initiative to prepare the ministry for offshore exploration in large volumes. The result of this initiative was the creation of Gazflot. Orudzhev first raised the issue of the construction of a plant for producing platforms in the North Caspian. Orudzhev promoted the start of the exploration and construction of the Orenburg and Astrakhan gas complexes. When Orudzhev spoke, he attracted an audience. Very often, in accordance with his opinion, he expressed the harshest criticism of members of the government and, if needed, members of the Central Committee of the Party. Such an approach generally brought positive results.
The industry got the opportunities for rapid development based on the latest achievements of science and technology, received additional grants, the right to scientifically experiment, and more; other "quiet" ministers could not count on this.
He was a little impulsive, especially when defending his opinion, but he was not vindictive. He was quite severe, including on himself. However, I have not heard any of his subordinates complaining of injustice. And of course, if Orudzhev was wrong, he admitted his mistake.
It was pleasant and interesting to talk to Sabit Atayevich. He was an impressive, colourful figure, beautiful in many ways. He was extremely fond of Azerbaijan; he could talk for hours about his native land and all that it involved.
Shortly before his death I met him at the cottage. He was already very sick, but I did not know about it. No one could say that this man was suffering. He was able to resist the stroke of fate."
"The problems associated with major accidents with casualties were usually discussed only at closed sessions of the Board,” the former head of the inspection under the Minister of the Gas Industry Konstantin Demidov says. “This information was not mentioned anywhere. Sabit Atayevich repeatedly violated this rule. At one meeting, the chief of the first section stood up and said: "Sabit Atayevich, you probably have forgotten that this has to be discussed at a closed session." Orudzhev got up, blushing, and countered: "How can there be a closed meeting of the Board when it concerns everyone? Today, there is some accident, tomorrow there could be others. Together we must take measures to prevent them!" The incident was settled, as the arguments were undeniable.
He did not like dishonest and deceitful people. When one officers was accused of concealing negative facts, Orudzhev shouted: "I do not need either sweet lies, nor people that hide the truth from their minister!". He was irritated by inconsistency, haste and ignoring official etiquette. At a meeting on the development of the gas fields of the Tyumen region, Orudzhev was given the floor. At this time, the Deputy Minister for Capital Construction, who had just returned from a trip to those areas, suggested: "Let me report! I know this question better!" He was given the floor, and the report was good. But after the meeting Orudzhev told him: "I do not need a deputy who knows more than a minister." The official was forced to leave on his own to work in another ministry."
To be continued
