The French Banker Who Challenged The Oil & Gas Status Quo! The Untold Story of Panoro Energy

The French Banker Who Challenged The Oil & Gas Status Quo! The Untold Story of Panoro Energy

In this episode of The Energy Executive 360 Podcast, we sit down with Julien Balkany, Chairman of Panoro Energy, to explore his journey from investment banker and fund manager in New York to leading the transformation of an African independent oil & gas company.At just 27 years old, Julien found himself as a French outsider with no technical oil & gas background trying to convince seasoned Texas oil executives to embrace a new vision for value creation. What followed was a career built on persistence, determination, disciplined capital allocation, and the willingness to challenge conventional thinking.Throughout the conversation, Julien shares the story behind Panoro Energy's transformation from a struggling company during the 2014 oil price collapse into a profitable African-focused producer with operations across Gabon, Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.We also explore what may be the next defining chapter in Panoro's growth story: the transformational acquisition from Kosmos Energy of an increased stake in the Block G offshore Equatorial Guinea in early 2026.Beyond the business story, Julien offers powerful insights into shareholder value creation, leadership, acquisitions, partnerships, mentoring and why patience remains one of the most underrated ingredients of long-term success.What You'll Learn:⬛ How a French banker became Chairman of a £300M oil & gas company⬛ The challenge of being an outsider in the oil industry⬛ Why persistence and determination matter more than credentials⬛ Turning around companies during industry downturns⬛ How Panoro transformed from a struggling company into a profitable African producer⬛ The acquisition strategy that delivered payback in less than 18 months⬛ Why the 2026 Block G acquisition could transform Panoro's future⬛ The importance of geographic focus and strategic discipline⬛ How to create long-term shareholder value⬛ Why trust and partnerships are critical in the energy industry⬛ The future of African oil & gas in the energy transition⬛ Why smaller companies can unlock value where larger companies cannot⬛ Lessons from mentors, leadership and boardroom decision-making⬛ Why success is a marathon, not a sprintFollow Julien Balkany & Panoro EnergyWebsite: https://www.panoroenergy.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEVvSXNfY2ZqOWhRNkpzMm5JQWRVSXRMSzE0UXxBQ3Jtc0tuMWhMYzN5WDk2VG9VOFpHeUJZRVA3elJFMjF6SmFXOEg1U3N1dGpyZTdpdWNYV2FHY1dJTWdmMHJoWS1GVTBIU1phRWZOeURrU3JYZTk0U0FIZEViMGp6N3Fad0l4TW9Vd1VoNW4wVk5XdWdFTUtvTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.panoroenergy.com%2F&v=mMu69dmGjiQ] Julien’s LinkedIn:   / julien-balkany-37752442   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVdieEhaU2pBeDF6V1Yyd1pMdXNoMlduRTdNQXxBQ3Jtc0tsaWxGQ2JmYU1Xb3pWU2M3RUhxNmZ5T3RYVnZpcGxoekxQZ29fOGUzRW05b1d6RzRMd3ZNeHZrTHB5MC00S0JiQ0VPazFUNDNFX05RRFQwaXhCOHpnUTdEX3JhTVVOekd4QVFDT0NkUkhMVXVfek5iSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fjulien-balkany-37752442%2F&v=mMu69dmGjiQ] The Energy Executive 360 with Emilio FaulmataFollow Emilio on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/EmilioFaulmata [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWk5UGQ5R2lPYlFiejAtZ2NUa196dW9hbnVOZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttN0d2d0FnNWxTdzZLeDNadFJ1by1CR0cxSVZ1TmJ0WjZUYW9JTE5tRFE4cmJGZ2drUWxOS1dfa3dndDZUeXZsemxSQmVWaVJlWGY0UFBPWFJiUTQ4VXlBZjd6a3dLQ08xQ1phcWptTkhGZTR0eHFubw&q=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2FEmilioFaulmata&v=mMu69dmGjiQ]TEE360 Studio: https://www.emiliofaulmata.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjU1LUlJZy1jUktYeVI1bDFXR1pESE5hcWxZZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsX1VFMUpBLVhkQzRCSURtSHpmRm04SWJ6NmJLUzdubXk3OUhyakJ0eUtTeGpMYVEyUmlWVDUwU1BhU2lnSjRlSURMUGc4c3RMUlhJTHJWUXFWd1BMNUVTNmhmQlFFSnZpN2dfcGRsVlZqUEJDQ3puWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.emiliofaulmata.com%2F&v=mMu69dmGjiQ]► TEE360 Future Energy Leaders Network:https://www.skool.com/tee360-global-e... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHExTXBVZkVSTlpZZ0phUkV3dEMxeFFwcnV4UXxBQ3Jtc0tsMzhRM0U5ajVCbTVaTjJwRHhwaWNsRGVPSWpkajM2aDBQNWFISXdpc3NFanpWOTR0TGU3UEpSWV9PeXl0SWpKTXg3ekpuNlhGbmQtcG85UHhnWk9WYS02Q3o0V0l3NjVMS0p3eGR6WGhQdmtUdjdxRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skool.com%2Ftee360-global-energy-leaders-7756%2Fabout&v=mMu69dmGjiQ]We’ve recently launched the TEE360 Future Energy Leaders Network — a global community designed for ambitious young professionals, entrepreneurs, and students in energy who want to level up their careers.Get access to the right connections, build relationships across the global energy industry, and learn directly from executives and CEOs shaping the future of the sector.If you're serious about becoming an energy leader, join us today. #PanoroEnergy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/panoroenergy] #JulienBalkany [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/julienbalkany] #OilAndGas [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/oilandgas] #EnergyLeadership [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/energyleadership] #africaenergy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/africaenergy] #Leadership [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/leadership] #Entrepreneurship [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/entrepreneurship] #Investing [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/investing] #MergersAndAcquisitions [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mergersandacquisitions] #EnergyTransition [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/energytransition] #BusinessStrategy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessstrategy] #CorporateLeadership [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/corporateleadership] #EnergyExecutive360 [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/energyexecutive360]

Africa's Energy Future Depends On This! The Key Lesson That Separates Winners From Losers

In this episode of The Energy Executive 360 Podcast, we sit down with Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA), to explore one of the most important but often overlooked questions facing the energy industry today:Who will actually turn our energy ambitions into reality?Having held leadership positions across ExxonMobil, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and now ARDA, Anibor brings a unique perspective that spans finance, operations, policy, refining, infrastructure, and human capital development across Africa.Throughout the conversation, he explains why people remain the most important factor in any organisation's success, why Africa's energy future depends on value addition rather than simply exporting resources, and how the continent can unlock greater investment in refining, storage, petrochemicals, sustainable aviation fuel, and clean cooking solutions.Anibor also shares the personal lessons that have guided his career, from almost missing out on his dream job after graduating from MIT, to leading through uncertainty, the importance of building your personal brand, developing future leaders, and adopting the mindset that has shaped his success: Some people walk in the rain, while others simply get wet... Whether you're interested in energy, leadership, business, entrepreneurship or personal development, this episode offers powerful lessons on how to build a meaningful career, lead people effectively, and make the most of the opportunities in front of you.What you'll learn:⬛ Why you can't turn PowerPoint into performance without people⬛ The role of human capital in driving energy projects and investment⬛ Lessons from leadership at ExxonMobil, NNPC and ARDA⬛ Why Africa needs more refining, storage and distribution infrastructure⬛ The opportunity behind Africa's industrialisation agenda⬛ Why the continent needs multiple "Dangote-sized" refining projects⬛ How ARDA is working to attract investment across Africa⬛ The future of petrochemicals, aviation fuels and clean cooking solutions⬛ Why positivity, resilience and adaptability matter in leadership⬛ The importance of building a strong personal brand⬛ How to remain authentic while navigating career pivots⬛ What it takes to lead people and deliver results at scale⬛ Why Africa's energy transition must focus on value creation and developmentChaptersFollow Anibor Kragha & ARDALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anibor-kragha-63277022b/Website: https://arda.africa/ The Energy Executive 360 with Emilio FaulmataFollow Emilio on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/EmilioFaulmataTEE360 Studio: https://www.emiliofaulmata.comJoin our first in person TEE360 Live Event in London on 29th June... See speakers and get your tickets below:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tee360-live-london-oil-gas-in-the-global-energy-transition-registration-1990469947194?aff=General► TEE360 Future Energy Leaders Network:https://www.skool.com/tee360-global-energy-leaders-7756/aboutWe’ve recently launched the TEE360 Future Energy Leaders Network — a global community of over 170 ambitious aspiring future energy leaders worldwide.Join to get access to the right connections, build relationships across the global energy industry, and learn directly from executives and CEOs shaping the future of the sector.If you're serious about becoming an energy leader, join us today.#AfricaEnergy #ARDA #EnergyTransition #Leadership #HumanCapital #Refining #OilAndGas #EnergyInfrastructure #Petrochemicals #CleanCooking #SustainableAviationFuel #EnergyLeadership #AfricanEnergy #FutureOfEnergy #EnergyExecutive360

Oil Explorer: 90% Of Oil Wells Fail! Why We Built An Oil Company During The Anti-Oil Era...

In this episode of The Energy Executive 360 Podcast, we sit down with Ian Cloke, Co-Founder & COO of Afentra, to explore his extraordinary career in global oil & gas exploration — from getting lost in the jungles of Borneo as a PhD student to discovering billion-barrel oil basins across Africa. With more than 30 years of experience spanning companies including Conoco, Mobil, and Tullow Oil, Ian shares the highs, failures, uncertainty, and resilience required to survive in one of the highest-risk industries in the world.He takes us inside the reality of exploration drilling: the sleepless nights before wells, the pressure of making billion-dollar decisions with incomplete information, and the emotional rollercoaster of going from “hero to zero” — and back again — within days. Ian also reflects on the journey of building Afentra during one of the toughest periods in modern energy history. Launching the company in 2020 at the peak of anti-oil sentiment and low oil prices, he explains why he and the team believed the world still needed pragmatic, balanced energy thinking — and why Africa remains one of the biggest long-term opportunities in global energy. What you’ll learn: ⬛ The emotional reality of oil & gas exploration and discovery ⬛ Why resilience is the most important skill in the energy industry ⬛ Lessons from discovering over 1 billion barrels of oil in Uganda ⬛ The story behind Kenya’s first oil discovery ⬛ How intuition, science, and experience combine in high-stakes decision-making ⬛ Why exploration geologists must become comfortable with uncertainty ⬛ The dangers of bad decision-making during high oil-price environments ⬛ Building Afentra during the 2020 “peak green” anti-oil climate ⬛ Why the best opportunities are often where nobody else is looking ⬛ The future of Africa’s role in global energy markets ⬛ Why the energy transition must be about “and,” not “or” ⬛ The importance of secure, affordable, and balanced energy systems Follow Ian Cloke & Afentra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-cloke... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2taMEJHazZzS0VKclkzbU1FMkVnX2tnTXZEUXxBQ3Jtc0traWdudlM1dXlsOGRMbGNkWE5RN1dmN25NemNMbG9EOF9WR0poZzA0UndBTEFMS1ctZkU2eU5yeTZUakhxNlNUb2FzNGFrRU9pdlhmeXNwb3ZIMHlHSlhOTVdLdldYTEw4TXNTMng2dzhRVUJnTW1IOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fian-cloke-2736b31%2F&v=lv9llctsVsE] Website: https://www.afentraplc.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazYzcDNfeWxiVjE0RjFJZGJlT1ZMbE5LcERUd3xBQ3Jtc0tuZUstLVNuNHQ4LUV2R2ZWLUhrakJvNUx3aXBPbXlITTVMZGw0NUJRMlJPMGFzZEFRM3hGOHpMdUFPRzBlemktNXQ2TXc4S2o5bFh2TGFYN0xLZmVUcXQ0ZXJNejVlVmh1dlRPaUFXQ3Eyb012bGRTdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.afentraplc.com%2F&v=lv9llctsVsE] The Energy Executive 360 with Emilio Faulmata Follow Emilio on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/EmilioFaulmata [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbm9LVG9uNDMwZWhQS1hCSndfaTdKTmdrRmFSd3xBQ3Jtc0tuLXhXNmZtVHpnQlB2eTBWYmxyYWJxLXNrQ29DVEVkSlU1SlE4REtnX293ZzM1dTdURnMzZDlmUTZWVllzc1huLVkwS2lrTEIxMWJYTk1fdkIwTEpSQ1d0bzZhTmRMcTNHZ3JqZ1lyT0tOc29xcUMxSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2FEmilioFaulmata&v=lv9llctsVsE] TEE360 Studio: https://www.emiliofaulmata.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkp5S2M5RjhlUEZWb2dLNnBfeXhNUXd2ZE1IZ3xBQ3Jtc0trNUNURm45c2U2YmZfTXFtNGlvQmxScHBoM0ZoMVpVMmplT044ZXNDV3NyTy1vVXNwb056b3g5M3Q3bzd0MzVXN2U5NnRrZ2EwQlM3T3U1cGRYYjNDQWs4Mm9Yc1d5bF8tdlNqRlpFVTVWTGV6c3Y1UQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.emiliofaulmata.com%2F&v=lv9llctsVsE] ► TEE360 Future Energy Leaders Network: https://www.skool.com/tee360-global-e... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbG9aLUhuYmZTVmctd3RRZEN3eVZRQnBlMFA3d3xBQ3Jtc0ttUjM5SG1EOHZxc3FVWnI2YkRDZkl5TDlzVkpsTU5xT18tenZQcUxIakNHR2Jfa3dObmNqS3BxWEthUnVheXRWTk5nYW9hdmZDVTdvMG5qQXZkMEVnZnBaVXNySUVkX203VmtmQlhJZlJoZmhUT3Rrbw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skool.com%2Ftee360-global-energy-leaders-7756%2Fabout&v=lv9llctsVsE] We’ve recently launched the TEE360 Future Energy Leaders Network — a global community designed for ambitious young professionals, entrepreneurs, and students in energy who want to level up their careers. Get access to the right connections, build relationships across the global energy industry, and learn directly from executives and CEOs shaping the future of the sector. If you’re serious about becoming an energy leader, join us today:https://www.skool.com/tee360-global-e... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3JoX1dtNWFGYjE0RVFmMU9hVFFLT080d0NQZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsdDU0QXp3UEV3clk4VFd4QzQyT284cmJ3b09JazFwNGlEZUF0N3g0WXJGclc3MW9pRGtGdS1EQURROHpSVzNWbTczOTJHTThURS1xSlZnZ1BuQ1RFRjFHNWw0ZzMtZzR5b3FPZkt3U05HajloN2dTSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skool.com%2Ftee360-global-energy-leaders-7756%2Fabout&v=lv9llctsVsE] #afentra [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/afentra] #oilandgas [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/oilandgas] #energytransition [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/energytransition] #africaenergy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/africaenergy] #angola [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/angola] #exploration [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/exploration] #leadership [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/leadership] #energyleadership [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/energyleadership] #upstream [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/upstream] #offshore [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/offshore] #energysecurity [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/energysecurity] #entrepreneurship [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/entrepreneurship] #podcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/podcast] #futureofenergy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/futureofenergy] #businessleadership [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessleadership] #energyindustry [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/energyindustry] #westafrica [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/westafrica]

How One Big Risk Got Me In The Room With Energy CEOs Worldwide. Road to TEE360 Episode 20

In Episode 14 of The Energy Executive 360 Podcast, Emilio Faulmata steps away from the traditional interview format for a raw solo episode filmed in Paris — reflecting on the journey of building one of the fastest-growing independent energy podcasts from nothing. From filming early episodes across Spain, Aberdeen, London, Kuwait and South Africa, to sitting down with CEOs, founders and some highly influential figures in global energy, Emilio breaks down what he’s learned about ambition, risk-taking, belief, and why moving with intention changes everything. This episode is not just about podcasting or energy.It’s about what happens when you stop waiting for permission. Emilio opens up about why he started the podcast less than a year ago, why the oil & gas industry desperately needs more honest and unapologetic conversations, and why he believes the future of energy cannot be built through ideology alone. He also speaks candidly about fear, quitting his job, taking risks before feeling ready, and the mindset shift that happens once you start betting on yourself fully. At the core of this conversation is a bigger mission:changing the narrative around energy, leadership, and what is actually possible for people willing to pursue something irrational enough that others initially call it crazy. What you'll learn: ⬛ How Emilio went from zero connections to interviewing global energy CEOs ⬛ Why oil & gas leaders need to speak more openly and publicly ⬛ The mission behind changing the narrative around energy ⬛ Why the energy transition and oil & gas are not opposing concepts ⬛ The psychology of taking risks before you feel ready ⬛ Why belief in yourself changes how the world responds to you ⬛ What happens when you stop waiting for permission ⬛ Why “moving with intention” opens doors faster than people think ⬛ The real reason most people never pursue what they actually want ⬛ Why action creates pathways and clarity over time ⬛ Lessons learned from founders, CEOs and entrepreneurs across the energy industry ⬛ Why energy is ultimately about improving lives and creating opportunity ⬛ The importance of building something bigger than yourself ⬛ Why the people who fail the most often believe in themselves the most ⬛ “Trust your delusion” — and let the path define itself This episode is for anyone trying to build something difficult, unconventional, or ambitious — especially when nobody around them fully understands the vision yet. The Energy Executive 360 with Emilio Faulmata Follow Emilio on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/EmilioFaulmata TEE360 Studio: https://www.emiliofaulmata.com ► TEE360 Future Energy Leaders Network: https://www.skool.com/tee360-global-energy-network-7260/about We recently launched the TEE360 Future Energy Leaders Network — a global community designed for ambitious students, young professionals and entrepreneurs who want to build meaningful careers in energy. Connect with future leaders across the industry, access exclusive opportunities, and learn directly from executives shaping the future of global energy.If you’re serious about becoming a leader in energy, join us today. #energyleadership #oilandgas #energytransition #leadership #entrepreneurship #podcast #energyleadership #motivation #business #careergrowth #futureofenergy #founderstory #energyindustry #mindset #selfbelief #youngprofessionals #globalenergycrisis #energyleadership #tee360

How to Lead Through Global Crisis! Why I Left BP to Build My Own Firm with Emily Watt

In this episode of The Energy Executive 360 Podcast, we sit down with Emily Watt, former BP executive and now founder of Pontiva Advisory, to explore what it really takes to step away from a high-powered corporate career and build something from the ground up.After nearly two decades in leadership roles — including heading trading and shipping across Europe and Africa at BP — Emily shares the defining moments that shaped her career, from moving out of finance in search of purpose to leading through disruption in global energy markets.She breaks down the realities of leadership at the highest level: how decisions are made under pressure, why delegation is critical as you scale, and the importance of knowing your strengths — without trying to be someone else.Emily also opens up about her biggest leap yet: founding Pontiva Advisory — a company built to help energy businesses navigate complexity, enter new markets, and unlock growth by rolling up their sleeves and working side by side with clients.⬛ What it really means to go from BP executive to founder⬛ Why leadership is about knowing your strengths — and delegating effectively⬛ How decisions are made in high-pressure environments⬛ Why many professionals don’t bring their full selves to work⬛ The mindset shift from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship⬛ Why today’s energy sector needs both expertise and creativity⬛ How to build meaningful relationships and stand out to mentors⬛ The key frameworks for managing crisis in global energy markets⬛ Why Africa is one of the biggest opportunities in energy today⬛ The importance of integrated energy systems and flexible solutions⬛ How to navigate risk, uncertainty, and complex decision-makingFollow Emily Watt & Pontiva AdvisoryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-ehrgood-watt-20608bb9/The Energy Executive 360 with Emilio FaulmataFollow Emilio on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/EmilioFaulmataTEE360 Studio: https://www.emiliofaulmata.com► TEE360 Future Energy Leaders Network: https://www.skool.com/tee360-global-energy-network-7260/aboutWe’ve recently launched the TEE360 Future Energy Leaders Network — a global community designed for ambitious young professionals, entrepreneurs, and students in energy who want to level up their careers.Get access to the right connections, build relationships across the global energy industry, and learn directly from executives and CEOs shaping the future of the sector.If you’re serious about becoming an energy leader, join us today:https://www.skool.com/tee360-global-energy-network-7260/about#corporatetofounder #founderstory #bp #pontivaadvisory #energyleadership #entrepreneurship #energytransition #energymarkets #africaenergy #emergingmarkets #leadership #businessleadership #careergrowth #decisionmaking #futureofenergy