Energy Minister Picks New Deputy Secretary After Vetoing Alternative

Energy Minister Eknath Promptpanya announced his choice of Chanthanon Wankhachor as the new permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry on August 18, 2025, at Government House. Eknath explained that Chanthanon was selected because he is a suitable fit for the role, particularly given the ministry's important pending work that requires experienced leadership and a willingness to reform operations. Although the Energy Ministry has several capable deputy secretaries, many have longer remaining tenure; Chanthanon's four-year tenure aligns well with the typical four-year term of a permanent secretary and avoids displacing officers with longer careers ahead.

When asked whether he personally proposed the appointment, Eknath clarified that the minister had already put forward the recommendation, which was then submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Songsakdi Tongsri and subsequently presented to the cabinet following normal procedure. He confirmed that there had been discussions and that while multiple candidates were considered, Chanthanon emerged as the most suitable after careful review.

Eknath dismissed suggestions that the appointment represented a political quota, laughing off the question. Regarding his earlier interest in Nattapol Rangsitpol, the permanent secretary of the Industry Ministry, Eknath acknowledged that Nattapol had been one option since permanent secretaries can be selected from other ministries or equivalent-ranked civil servants. However, he stressed that his focus was on current challenges and future work, not political connections. He noted that whoever is willing to work alongside him to tackle problems is welcome to join, adding that the road ahead will not be easy and requires determination from the team.