YANGON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military government is planning to privatise state-owned petrol filling stations, an energy ministry official said on Tuesday.

"Arrangements are under way to transfer over 250 petrol and diesel filling stations across the country to private companies in March. The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) is taking care of it," a senior official from the Ministry of Energy told Reuters, declining to be named.

An official at the FCCI said that a Fuel Oil Importers and Distributors Association (FOIDA) had been formed recently with 138 members under the leadership of prominent businessmen.

Myanmar's military government has in recent years allowed some businessmen who earned export proceeds in hard currency to import diesel, but retail distribution through filling stations was kept under state control.

In fiscal 2008/2009 (April/March) Myanmar imported refined oil worth $586.6 million, up from $369.6 million a year before.