
A critical component of commercial and passenger battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are, of course, batteries. And those batteries require a crucial element - lithium, and that's where Stardust Power (SDST), a developer of battery-grade lithium products, enters the picture.
The company broke ground last week on a 66-acre site for a new lithium refinery at the Southside Industrial Park in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The location was chosen because of its access to the country's largest inland waterway system, road and rail networks, and an experienced workforce in the oil and gas sector.
The ceremony was attended by senior Stardust Power officials including Roshan Pujari, founder and CEO of Stardust Power. Other notable attendees included Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell and Patrick Cale, Mayor of Muskogee.
“Our lithium refinery will be crucial for addressing U.S. national security and supply chain risk," Pujari said. "By onshoring critical mineral manufacturing, we are helping to sustain America’s energy leadership. With the land acquired and necessary construction permits secured in 2024, we are excited to break ground and begin construction. With continued support from the State of Oklahoma, especially Governor Kevin Stitt, we are moving forward to becoming one of the country’s leading suppliers of battery-grade lithium. At a time when foreign entities of concern are attempting to consolidate critical minerals, Stardust Power is proud to play a key role in safeguarding American interests and supporting Oklahoma’s local economy.”
Securing the country's energy future is one of the Trump administration's key goals, though it's remained more focused, for now at least, at boosting oil and natural gas output. Chris Wright, Trump's nominee for Energy Secretary, has described himself as a fossil fuel "pragmatist."
[Related: 7 takeaways from Energy Secretary nominee Chris Wright's committee hearing]
The company says the project will be developed in two phases. First, construction of a production line capable of producing upwards of 25,000 metric tons per annum, while the second phase aims to add a second production line that'll increase total capacity to 50,000 metric tons per annum.
“Stardust Power’s decision to break ground on its lithium refinery in Muskogee is a significant step forward for Oklahoma’s role in reinforcing our critical mineral supply chains and bolstering national security,” said Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell. “This project not only strengthens our state’s position as a leader in sustainable energy, but it also creates hundreds of good-paying jobs and drives economic growth for our communities.