June 16 (Reuters) - Giyani Metals ( CATPF ) said on Monday

it had received a letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank

of the United States (EXIM) for a loan of up to $225 million to

help build its manganese project in Botswana.

If approved, the loan will support the construction of

Giyani's K.Hill project, which will produce battery-grade

manganese used in electric vehicles, the company said.

The funding is part of the U.S. effort to reduce its

reliance on critical minerals from China.