10 February 2012, Sweetcrude, HOUSTON – The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and ExxonMobil Corporation, the world's largest energy company by market value, are seeking a $1.5 billion loan for a joint venture to develop offshore oil fields in Nigeria, according to Bloomberg reports. Standard Chartered Plc and South African lenders, Standard Bank Group Ltd and Nedbank Group Ltd, are among the banks involved in the deal, which is due to be signed in the next few weeks, the Blomberg further reported, quoting sources, who declined to be identified because the terms are private. Sweetcrudereports could not ascertain whether this loan is the same $1.5 billion, five-year amortising restructuring syndicated loan the NNPC was reported to have been making plans, in the last quarter of 2011, to secure from international lenders.