Lithium Chile’s $175M China deal: project scale and risk notes for mine planners
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

First reported on MINING.com
30 Second Briefing
Lithium Chile’s C$175 million sale of its Argentum Lithium subsidiary and 29,245-hectare Salar de Arizaro interest to China Union Holdings now faces a potential national security review after Canada’s director of investments issued a Subsection 25.2(1) Investment Canada Act notice. The Arizaro prefeasibility study outlines 4.122 million tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate over a 20-year mine life, backed by an NI 43-101 resource and PEA, making the asset strategically significant. Lithium Chile disputes Ottawa’s jurisdiction over the Argentine vehicle, while China Union must also secure outbound investment approval from Beijing.
Technical Brief
- Subsection 25.2(1) Investment Canada Act notice triggers a possible national security review phase.
- China Union’s acquisition agreement dates to December 2025, covering all Argentum Lithium shares.
- Lithium Chile argues Argentum has no Canadian assets, employees or place of business, challenging jurisdiction.
- Ottawa’s September 2024 Investment Canada Act amendments strengthened foreign investment screening, now being tested on this deal.
- Lithium Chile shareholders approved divestment of the Argentine assets at the May AGM by a strong majority vote.
- Beyond Arizaro, Lithium Chile retains 11 Chilean properties totalling 106,136 hectares for future lithium development.
Our Take
A 4.122 Mt battery-grade lithium carbonate resource at Salar de Arizaro puts Argentum Lithium into the upper tier of brine projects in our database, which is likely to heighten Ottawa’s sensitivity to Chinese control compared with smaller Canadian-linked lithium assets in Latin America.
The Investment Canada Act changes that took effect in September 2024 mean this $175M M&A move is being tested under a much stricter ‘net benefit and security’ lens than earlier Latin American lithium deals by Canadian juniors, signalling more uncertainty for peers with Chilean or Argentine portfolios like Lithium Chile’s 11 Chile properties.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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