Akanit is one of six retired generals behind the push for a national oil company, with his committee responsible for revising the Petroleum Act.

He said the energy sector used only the concession method to manage oil and gas resources, while other countries used the production sharing and service outsourcing methods. All three methods should be considered in the future, he said.

The military would not be directly involved in the process since it would be under the Energy Ministry’s jurisdiction, he said, despite earlier reports that the Defence Department would have a role.

The current bill only stated that the national oil company should be set up when appropriate, without giving a specific timeframe.

Critics of the proposal, such as former deputy premier MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, have said they are worried the national oil company would set back the energy sector and its vast financial interests would be abused.

The NLA is set for a showdown over the contentious bill to reform the energy sector.

The bill will be debated in the second and final reading on Thursday, with the vote likely to be a close as many NLA members are waiting for more clarification on the contentious points in the bill.