Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has vowed to proceed with the 21st round of bidding on concessions for oil and gas exploration to ensure energy security.
"The Energy Ministry will press ahead with the matter. It must go forward," Gen Prayut said, referring to the bidding which is due to take place next month.
"As for people who might protest against it, they cannot come out. We can't allow it," he said.
No one will be permitted to set up a stage to sound their opinions on the issue. However, they can send their proposals directly to authorities, he said.
The National Reform Council on Tuesday voted against its energy reform committee, which supports bidding on concessions.
To support energy security, preparations must be made to explore energy reserves in advance, Gen Prayut said.
The Energy Ministry has explained that if energy reserves are found, the government will amend regulations on royalty rates, the premier said.
If the concession has to be suspended, the chance to find new reserves will be lost.
He added that locating new reserves is crucial as the country's energy reserves will run out in six years.
In his weekly address yesterday, Gen Prayut stressed that information on energy reform and the 21 petroleum concessions must be accurate and shared with people from all sides. The concessions also need public input.
The Energy Ministry will work to ensure that Thailand will not face future energy crises. Gen Prayut said more time is needed before a decision is made as to who will be granted the concessions.
"Exploring, drilling and refining will take time. Please be patient. Matters of energy conservation and energy security need to go hand in hand. A lot of people still do not understand what energy security means," the premier said on his weekly talk programme.
"What if one day, other countries stop supplying energy to Thailand, how would we survive?
"What I am trying to say to you is that we must have our own energy resources and be more prepared in terms of renewable energy, so that we can immediately react to a future energy crisis," he said.