Gas king, Julius Rone, expands his influence

By Funsho Arogundade

For Julius Rone, energy tycoon and UTM Offshore Limited boss, the past 13 years have been most exciting as an active player in the nation’s oil and gas industry. Since he ventured into the sector with a clear vision, he has achieved several feats that have made him the envy of his competitors.

The Delta State-born businessman is known to have consolidated his pre-eminence in the industry when he floated the first liquid natural gas facility in the country. Unlike some others, Rone believed in the power of dreams and the relentless pursuit to make them a reality. He has been the driving force behind UTMOL’s success – even in the face of doubts and disparaging labels. He recognises the importance of grabbing opportunities with both hands and building a brand synonymous with excellence, especially as he operates in an industry reputed for unpredictable vagaries.

As a leader in the energy sector, Rone has showcased his ingenuity to the world through conscious efforts to bring about a brighter future for Nigeria, while proving that good things can come out of Africa. On many occasions, Rone —whose FNLG was recently recognised as one of the best in Africa— has been one of the notable and influential Nigeria’s business magnates worthy of presidential invitation on many of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s international business roundtables, including the India-Nigeria Business Roundtable and Brazil-Nigeria Roundtable. In recent times, the tycoon has redoubled as he moved around the world from business forum to roundtables of top business executives and energy tycoons, sharing with them his brilliance and excellent grasp of the energy sector. As proof of his continuous relevance in the industry, Rone was an attraction at the recent Gastech Exhibition and Conference held in Milan, Italy where he was one of the key speakers from Africa.