With a projected Liquified Petroleum Gas market size of US$10bn, Nigeria has the fastest growing LPG sector in the world, with domestic demand increasing by 40 per cent. Rainoil Gas has dedicatedly supported the policy of deepening LPG penetration by the federal government, so as to improve domestic LPG consumption nationwide. This has increased the flexibility of LPG across the Nation, as well as adding to the growth of our economy as a nation.
Gabriel Ogbechie is the Founder and the Group Managing Director of Rainoil, a company he established in 1997 due to his years of experience in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry. Rainoil has proven to be one of the dominant players in the downstream space of the Nigerian oil and gas industry, with over 100 petrol stations across the country, and still counting. With a 50 million-liter capacity multi-product depot in Oghara, Delta State, and a 50 million-liter capacity in Ijegun, Lagos and another 50 million litre multi-product depot in the Calabar Free Trade Zone. In August 2020, the downstream oil and gas company launched its Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage facility with a tank capacity of 8000 MT in Ijegun, Lagos, Southwest.
The company has a fleet of about 130 trucks that delivers products around the country. A graduate of Production engineering from the prestigious University of Benin, Ogbechie had spent four years at Ascon Oil, where he headed the sales and operations unit of the conglomerate. Stardom did not just come to Ogbechie, he worked hard for it. Ogbechie began his career from a humble beginning, working as a factory engineer before joining PricewaterhouseCoopers.He is the Founder, Gabriel Ogbechie Foundation.
No doubt, Ogbechie is a philanthropist to the core, as he has reportedly been involved in many philanthropic gestures which includes provision of scholarships to undergraduates, community healthcare and youth employment.Rainoil has succeeded in etching its name on the rock of time, as one of the most successful downstream petroleum companies in Nigeria. Ogbechie’s passion for the sector has been a major drive for him. In 1994, he incorporated Rainoil Limited and commenced operations in 1997; essentially, Rainoil is a classic case of a start-up. The grass to grace story of Rainoil is inspirational. The downstream company started from ground zero with little capital; however, with hard work, dedication, perseverance, and discipline, Ogbechie and his team were able to build it into what it is today. Rainoil provides direct employment to more than 1200 people. It is an integrated downstream company that plays a role in the entire value chain. The business offers a fleet capacity of about 130 trucks, while LPG alone has over 40 trucks that would ensure product distribution to bulk buying customers owning LPG filling facilities.
Rainoil Gas also plans to meet customers’ energy needs at the retail end, with filling plants in the process where LPG can be supplied in cylinders to consumers.
The Founder, Gabriel Ogbechie, believes that Rainoil’s expansion aligns perfectly with the company’s vision and mission of continuously providing solutions to fill the gaps in the energy sector.
Over the last 23 years, Rainoil has grown to include: three petroleum product storage depots-50 million litres each in Delta State, Cross River State and Lagos State; more than 100 retail outlets across the country; a fleet of over 130 trucks for efficient product delivery and one shipping vessel with a total capacity of more than 20,000 metric tonnes.
