SANTIAGO, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Chile's SQM SQMa.SN, one of the world's largest lithium producers, said on Monday that it agreed to sell its 50 percent stake in the Cauchari-Olaroz project in Argentina to China's Ganfeng Lithium 002460.SZ for $87.5 million.
The deal also stipulates that Ganfeng will pay SQM an additional $50 million if the project's goals for selling lithium are met, SQM said in a statement.
The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter, SQM added.
Canada's Lithium Americas Corp (LAC) LAC.TO LAC.N said in a separate statement that its stake in Cauchari-Olaroz would rise to 62.5 percent from 50 percent now as a result of the deal. Ganfeng, which will own 37.5 percent of the project, also agreed to give LAC a $100 million loan, allowing it to pay for its part in initial capital expenditures.
The shake-up in ownership in the project in northern Argentina comes as China has been aggressively promoting electric vehicles, whose batteries use lithium, to help domestic carmakers build global brands and to reduce air pollution.
Earlier this year, China's Tianqi Lithium Corp 002466.SZ said it was buying a 24 percent stake in SQM for $4.1 billion. The sale has not yet been approved by Chile's antitrust regulator. Cauchari-Olaroz project is expected to start production in 2020.