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By Funsho Arogundade
Energy tycoon, Julius Dediare Rone, is one of a kind. Like the sun refusing to step down from its high point in the sky, Rone’s brilliance continues to dazzle onlookers. Every time he is mentioned in the news, it is certain, he is on the move and great things are imminent.
For Rone, who stands at the forefront of Nigeria’s energy sector as the Chief Executive Officer of UTM Offshore —a company spearheading the development of the country’s inaugural floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility— he possesses an unrivalled genius and profound understanding of investment.
With a sobriquet ‘The Gas King’, Rone’s presence in the sector has been a dominating force, leaving an ineffaceable mark wherever he ventures and positioning himself at the pinnacle of Nigeria’s gas industry. He has a rich and diverse entrepreneurial journey that has helped shape the energy sector in Africa. His UTM Offshore FLNG facility is designed to deliver 1.5 million tonnes of LNG for export and 300,000 tonnes of LPG for domestic use annually. This venture, backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, as part of the Renewed Hope agenda, represents a significant advancement in Nigeria’s gas monetization strategy.
But the real kicker is that this Delta State-born energy titan has kick-started the year 2026 on a high note. Rone has won two significant awards: The Sun Newspaper Investor of the Year and New Telegraph Personality of the Year. These two recognitions from two of Nigeria’s influential media companies have further cemented Rone’s status as a transformative force in Nigeria’s energy landscape. The double awards also solidified his status as an outstanding businessman that stands out among Africa’s elite.
A holder of the prestigious national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), Rone’s recognition stems from his leadership of Nigeria’s inaugural FLNG project. His exceptional intuition, unmatched business acumen, and ability to identify opportunities where others see failure have equally propelled him to the forefront.
