Stardust Power Inc., a developer of battery-grade lithium carbonate with a site in Muskogee, Oklahoma, announced it has been selected as an industrial partner in a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded research program to develop next-generation electrochemical technology for the extraction of lithium from domestic waste streams.
The DOE-supported program, led by Dr. John Staser and Ohio University’s Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment in partnership with CONSOL Innovations, is focused on extracting lithium from domestic waste streams, including wastewater from oil and gas operations and drainage from legacy coal mines. The project, titled “Coal- and Waste Coal-based Electrodes for Direct Lithium Extraction from Domestic Waste Streams,” was selected for award negotiations under Announcement DE-FOA-0003105 Critical Material Innovation, Efficiency and Alternatives. As part of the initiative, Stardust Power will serve as the end-use industrial partner, evaluating lithium samples produced by the research team against battery-grade specifications and supporting downstream commercialization pathways for potential refining applications.
The collaboration advances Stardust Power’s strategy of developing diversified domestic lithium sources and reflects the growing strategic importance of alternative feedstocks to American energy security and industrial competitiveness. These waste streams could also represent a valuable future source of feedstock for the Company’s refinery operations.
The strategic partnership reflects Stardust Power’s alignment with U.S. critical minerals and energy security priorities. It further strengthens relationships across the federal government, industry stakeholders, and academia focused on domestic supply chain development. Participation as a DOE-approved industrial partner alongside leading research institutions further positions the Company to support future strategic collaborations and initiatives aimed at strengthening America’s domestic critical minerals infrastructure.
“This initiative aligns closely with our long-term strategy of supporting the development of a resilient domestic lithium supply chain,” said Roshan Pujari, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stardust Power. “Our lithium refinery is at the center of the domestic lithium supply chain.” “As the United States works to strengthen critical mineral independence and reduce reliance on foreign processing, alternative domestic lithium sources are becoming increasingly important. We are pleased to continue collaborating with Ohio University on technologies that could help unlock new lithium supply pathways while supporting the long-term growth of domestic refining capacity and American supply chain security.”
“We are excited to continue advancing this work with Stardust Power as an industry collaborator,” said Dr. John Staser, Principal Investigator and Professor at Ohio University. “Developing technologies capable of recovering lithium from domestic waste streams has the potential to create additional secure and sustainable supply pathways for critical minerals in the United States.”
Stardust Power is building one of America’s largest battery-grade lithium carbonate refineries in Muskogee, Oklahoma, strategically located in the center of the United States’ growing energy and manufacturing corridor. The refinery is expected to have production capacity of up to 50,000 metric tons per annum and addresses the critical shortage of U.S. lithium refining capacity. Stardust Power is focused on building of a resilient American battery supply chain.
