The Banco de Reservas has obtained a credit line with international institutions to be able to provide the Dominican Petroleum Refinery (Refidomsa) the dollars it needs to cover the oil bill until next December. Central Bank Governor Hector Valdez Albizu and the manager of Banco de Reservas, Daniel Toribio, announced that Refidomsa will not have to purchase its foreign exchange in the market for the payment of the oil bill since this month until December, as the Bank has been issued credit lines by international financing institutions. Although the size of the loan was not disclosed, this measure takes pressure off the foreign exchange market. The officials, who spoke in New York, stated that with these resources, plus US$110 million available for the balance of payments, Central Bank net reserves of US$700 million and the withdrawal of RD$8 billion of circulating currency (M-1), the foreign exchange rate should reverse its tendency towards increase and recover its relative stability. Crude oil and fuel imported by Refidomsa throughout this year have been estimated at US$2.5 billion if international prices of crude remain at the current level of approximately US$65 per barrel. For the rest of the year, pending imports are calculated between US$800 and US$900 million.