In an effort to combat the country’s continuing dollar shortage, the Kenyan government has signed an agreement with three international oil companies that will allow the African nation to purchase oil using Kenyan shillings.

Due to the dollar shortage, which the government is trying to address, businesses that import goods for their operations—including oil marketers and manufacturers—have been forced to pay more for dollars than the official average exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Kenya.

Kenya signed an agreement for the supply of petroleum products on credit for nine months, with an extended credit period of six months, with the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), and the Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc).

Every month, Saudi Aramco will provide two diesel cargoes; Adnoc will provide two additional cargoes of diesel and one additional cargo of dual-purpose kerosene, and Enoc will deliver three cargoes of super petrol.

The companies will choose local oil marketers to manage the importation and collection of funds, which will then be paid after the six-month credit period has expired.

The credit period is anticipated to decrease demand for the U.S. dollar and ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves, which are at their lowest levels in more than a decade. Oil marketers will also start paying for goods with shillings rather than dollars, as has been the practice.

Previously, the local Kenyan oil industry required approximately $500 million (Sh64 billion) monthly to purchase about 740,000 metric tonnes, with oil marketing companies having to pay importers in U.S. dollars.