* Sinochem says has had no intention to make bid for SQM stake
* Company was reported to be one of four Chinese bidders
* Canada's PotashCorp looking to sell 32 percent holding in SQM (Adds detail, background)
By Tom Daly
BEIJING, Oct 24 (Reuters) - China's state-owned Sinochem Group SINOC.UL on Tuesday appeared to deny a media report that it was bidding for a stake in Chilean lithium producer SQM SQMa.SN being sold by Canada's PotashCorp POT.TO .
"Up until now, neither Sinochem Group nor our subsidiaries have had such intentions or plans," the company said in response to a request for comment from Reuters.
The Financial Times reported on Monday that Sinochem, a Beijing-based chemicals and oil conglomerate, was among four Chinese bidders for a $4 billion stake in Chile's Sociedad Quimica Y Minera (SQM), one of the world's largest lithium producers. It cited people familiar with the process. is a key raw material for batteries in electric vehicles, which are enjoying a massive rise in popularity in China.
The other Chinese bidders named by the Financial Times were Ningbo Shanshan 600884.SS , Tianqi Lithium and GSR Capital.
Ningbo Shanshan also said that it was not participating in a bid to acquire equity in SQM, while Tianqi Lithium 002466.SZ and GSR Capital did not respond to requests for comment.
Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc was in September reported to have hired Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) and BofA Merrill Lynch to explore selling its 32 percent stake in SQM.