OREANDA-NEWS. Vagit Alekperov, OAO LUKOIL President, and Natalya Komarova, Governor of the Yugra Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, attended the inauguration ceremony of the monument dedicated “To Heroic Oilmen, Explorers of West Siberia”. The monument is erected on the approaches to Kogalym in gratitude to those who contributed to the development of hydrocarbon fields under the harsh conditions of West Siberia.

Mr. Alekperov and Mrs. Komarova also launched construction of the Galaktika sports and recreation center to be built next to the monument.

Kogalym community's social infrastructure will be added to. In the presence of the LUKOIL President and the Yugra Governor, Bishop Pavel of Khanty-Mansyisk and Surgut consecrated the stone and cross at the construction site of a church in honor of Saint Tatyana the Martyr.

Later the same day, Vagit Alekperov and Natalya Komarova met with teams of oilmen in Kogalym and Pokachi and visited the settlement of Pionerny, where permanent structures for dwelling are being constructed with funding from LUKOIL. More than 70 families have already moved into completed buildings. The executives visited the occupants of the new apartments, commented on the efficiency of interaction of the authorities and business, and discussed future plans.