COMPANY PLANNING TO BUILD LITHIUM REFINERY IN OKLAHOMA

A Connecticut energy startup company plans to build a lithium refinery just outside Tulsa, on an unspecified 66-acre site with access to the Kerr-McClellan Navigation System. The Mid-America Industrial Park fits their description of the property and has been actively recruiting industries related to electric vehicle production.

Stardust Power LLC announced plans in May to build a lithium refinery capable of processing 55,100 tons of battery-grade lithium annually. Their product would be destined for the electric vehicle market.

The Stardust Oklahoma plant announcement was included in an investor fact sheet about a planned combination between Stardust and Global Power Acquisition leading to listing on the Nasdaq exchange, expected in early 2024. The company says the State of Oklahoma and municipal incentives would support the project, in addition to federal grants and loans.

The company report says Stardust plans to build in Oklahoma to take advantage of nearby access to raw materials in Arkansas and Texas, and battery and vehicle manufacturers in several states. EV manufacturer Canoo has a battery module assembly plant at Mid-America, and a vehicle assembly plant in Oklahoma City that is ramping up operations.

The company expects to recruit and retrain old and gas workers to help build the workforce they need and utilize oil and gas wastewater as one source for production.

The company states the plant will utilize some renewable energy for production, which is available at Mid-America, and produce zero liquid discharge.

Below is Stardust Power LLC’s release:

“Stardust Power’s strategy is to become a leading producer of battery grade lithium products in the U.S. The Company believes that designing a large central refinery optimized for multiple inputs of brine lithium feedstock provides an opportunity to scale production rather than the dependence on single assets. The proposed new battery-grade lithium refining facility in Greater Tulsa, Oklahoma, is expected to produce 50,000 metric tonnes per year of American battery-grade lithium, supporting the expansion of domestic manufacturing and helping to secure U.S. energy independence by reducing EV supply chain dependence on foreign sources of material. This is anticipated to reduce the reliance on lithium imports from China which could be threatened by increasing Chinese export controls, among other factors.

“The Oklahoma refinery site is shovel ready. The site has access to existing power (including from renewable sources), water supply, wastewater treatment, and natural gas service, as well as connections to major railways for material delivery and offtake. Once operational, the refinery is anticipated to draw employees from the surrounding area through workforce training programs and job placement partnerships.

“Stardust Power aims to solve one of the largest challenges of the energy transition – reliable access to the critical minerals that will make the transition a reality,” said Roshan Pujari, CEO of Stardust Power. “Refined lithium is the key component in the lithium-ion batteries which make the proliferation of EVs, and decarbonization of transportation, possible. Domestic production of battery-grade lithium is also a crucial factor to American national security and leadership in the energy transition, which Stardust Power is working to address.””