In every cabinet reshuffle, the top position in the Energy Ministry, like the Transport Ministry, is a prime target for politicians who see it as a "treasure trove''.
The forthcoming reshuffle is no different. Some powerful political factions are already pulling out all the stops in their efforts to take up the energy portfolio.
The most attractive element of the Energy Ministry is its state enterprises. Anyone who takes the helm of the ministry also takes control of those wealthy state enterprises.
In the 2019 fiscal year, two of the three state enterprises with the highest income contributions to state coffers were under the Energy Ministry. They are Thailand's largest energy firm PTT Plc which contributed 29.2 billion baht, followed by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), at 18.9 billion baht. The Government Lottery Office (GLO), an agency under the Finance Ministry, was the top contributor overall with 41.9 billion baht.
Currently in the spotlight is PTT's plan to list its wholly-owned subsidiary, PTT Oil and Retail Co (PTTOR), on the Stock Exchange of Thailand next year. The submission was postponed from this year.
PTTOR operates more than 1,500 petrol stations with a plan to increase the number to 1,800 next year. The number of its cash-cow Amazon Cafes will also expand to 2,700 by the end of the year.
If listed, PTTOR's initial public offering (IPO) could be the largest of the year with an initial market capitalisation at 190-250 billion baht.
Looking back almost two decades, the Thaksin Shinawatra government in 2001 decided to privatise the state-owned Petroleum Authority of Thailand by transforming it into PTT Plc and listing it on the stock market.
But the procedure attracted harsh criticism as investors claimed large chunks of shares were locked through nominees, particularly politicians. Many retail investors went home empty-handed.
The IPO of PTTOR, if it happens, will remain under close public scrutiny for the same reason.
The Energy Ministry itself also has several multi-billion-baht projects in the pipeline. Highlights include bids for licences for petroleum exploration and production under Round 23 covering 38 oil and gas blocks in the Gulf of Thailand, and a community power plant scheme worth an estimated 70 billion baht of investment.
This is why the Energy Ministry is so important among powerful politicians.
The quota for the ministry is meted out by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is facing a strong challenge from the Sam Mitr faction in the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), which has reportedly demanded the portfolio and the top position for its co-leader Suriya Jungrungreangkit.
Mr Suriya has been seen as a "mover and shaker" within parties over the past decade. When he oversaw the industry and transport ministries, several projects he oversaw or initiatives he took became controversial, including the PTT privatisation and the procurement of CTX bomb scanners, although he was cleared of all allegations.
Given the importance of energy to the economy and society, Thailand needs someone not only competent but clean to lead the ministry.
Gen Prayut will certainly have a hard time making sure the right person gets the nod to take the helm of the ministry but if he can, it will be to the huge benefit of the nation to whom this treasure trove really belongs.