Anatoly Zolotukhin

It is with great sadness that we inform that Anatoly Zolotukhin, Senior Vice-President of the World Petroleum Council and Deputy Chairman of the Russian National Committee of the WPC, passed away on 13 March 2022. He recently turned 76 years old.


Anatoly Zolotukhin was born on 11 March 1946 in Moscow to a family of oil industry workers. In 1969, he graduated from the Gubkin University with a degree in Technology and Integrated Mechanisation of Oil and Gas Field Development, and in 1977 from the Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in Applied Mathematics. Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor.


А. Zolotukhin took part in many industrial projects in different countries, was engaged in teaching for about 50 years – he conducted classes in many universities of the world. Thousands of oil specialists on different continents call Anatoly their mentor.


A large part of Anatoly's life was connected with Gubkin University. Here he worked his way up from a junior researcher to Vice-Rector for International Affairs. For 30 years he was a professor in the Department of Oil Fields Development and Exploitation.


Apart from Russia, A. Zolotukhin had a lot of ties with Norway, Statoil (now Equinor). For a long time he was the company's Project Manager in Russia, and later worked as a Technical Director of Statoil/StatoilHydro's Moscow office.


Anatoly Zolotukhin is widely known as an authoritative practitioner in the field of hydrocarbon field development on the shelf of the northern seas and in the Arctic. His achievements are highly valued by the international professional community. Anatoly was an academician of the Norwegian Academy of Polar Research, a member of the Paris Energy Club, and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of the USA and Norway.


A special place in A. Zolotukhin's biography is occupied by his participation in the World Petroleum Council. Since 2008 Anatoly has been representing Russia in the governing bodies of this international organisation, the oldest in the industry and uniting representatives of dozens of countries and all continents. In December 2021 he was once again re-elected as a Senior Vice-President of the World Petroleum Council.


Until his last days Anatoly Zolotukhin was Deputy Chairman of the Association "Russian National Committee of the World Petroleum Council". He played an extremely important role in the development of the Association, strengthening its authority both in Russia and in the international community. Anatoly was one of the key organisers of the 21st World Petroleum Congress in Moscow (2014).


Working with young people and training responsible and proactive specialists at a high professional level has become an integral part of Anatoly's destiny. He brought this passion to the work of the RNC WPC as well, and he fully supported the development of the youth direction in the Association's activities. A. Zolotukhin took an active part in preparing and holding the 6th WPC Youth Forum – Future Leaders Forum (St. Petersburg, 2019) that was recognised by the World Petroleum Council as the best ever.


Last years Anatoly Zolotukhin was seriously ill, but continued his active scientific, pedagogical and public activities. His example was admirable and inspiring to all those who had the chance to interact with him.


Our loss is irreplaceable and the bitterness of the loss is immense. The people around Anatoly appreciated him not only for his professionalism, but also for his exceptional human qualities – compassion, integrity, commitment and kindness.


We express our sincere condolences to the family and friends, students and colleagues, all those who knew and loved Anatoly. Our hearts will forever hold a bright memory of A. Zolotukhin and our gratitude for his great and small deeds.