Adds details and background on the joint venture from paragraph 2

Dec 9 (Reuters) - Smackover Lithium, a joint venture between Standard Lithium SLI.V and Equinor EQNR.OL, said on Tuesday it had attracted more than $1 billion in financing interest for its southwest Arkansas lithium project.

Three export credit agencies, including EXIM and Export Finance Norway, have expressed an interest in providing debt financing for the project.

U.S.-listed shares of Standard Lithium rose 5% in premarket trade.

The joint venture is seeking up to $1.1 billion in senior secured debt to cover most of the $1.45 billion cost of building the first phase of the project.

The financing would include loans and guarantees from export credit agencies, as well as additional debt from commercial banks.

Earlier this year, Standard Lithium received a $225 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, giving the company a boost as it competes with Exxon Mobil XOM.N to become the first lithium producer in Arkansas, which holds one of North America's largest deposits of the battery metal.

Formed in May 2024, the joint venture is developing several direct lithium extraction projects in southwest Arkansas and east Texas, with Standard Lithium owning 55% and operating the projects and Equinor holding the remaining 45%.

(Reporting by Sumit Saha in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)

((Sumit.Saha@thomsonreuters.com;))