Stardust Power, the developer of the recently announced construction of a lithium refinery in Muskogee, said this week it has reached a major licensing agreement regarding some of the technology for the Oklahoma plant.
The Connecticut-based developer of battery-grade lithium products announced the execution of an exclusive licensing agreement with KMX Technologies, Inc., a leader in advanced lithium brine concentration technology. This agreement grants Stardust Power the exclusive rights to utilize KMX’s innovative vacuum membrane distillation technology across the United States, Canada, and select international markets.
With the execution of this agreement, Stardust Power is positioned to deploy KMX’s VMD technology throughout Stardust Power’s network design and supply chain in order to optimize delivery of feedstocks to its lithium refinery under development in Muskogee, Oklahoma, with up to 50,000 metric tons per annum production capacity upon completion. The Company plans to integrate this advanced technology across both its refining and upstream operations to further enhance the environmental and economic performance of its lithium production processes.
The exclusive license grants Stardust Power the full rights to use and operate KMX VMD units within the designated territory and field of use. This agreement will support Stardust Power’s continued commitment to build out the North American lithium supply chain and onshoring of critical minerals in the rapidly growing North America lithium market.
“This exclusive licensing agreement with KMX Technologies is a pivotal step forward in advancing Stardust Power’s sustainability and operational efficiency goals,” said Roshan Pujari, CEO and Founder of Stardust Power.
“KMX’s VMD technology offers a unique opportunity to reduce both energy consumption and water use across our supply chain, particularly by concentrating lithium feedstocks for efficient logistics. By incorporating this technology, we aim to significantly lower operating costs while strengthening the U.S. critical mineral supply chain and enhancing national security, all while doing so in an environmentally responsible manner.” KMX’s technology is ideal for Stardust Power’s innovative hub and spoke refinery model. By reducing the volume of the brine feedstock, less volume needs to be transported. The large central refinery is designed to repulp feedstock and blend as needed.
KMX’s VMD technology is capable of concentrating lithium from brine sources with minimal losses, thereby enhancing the economic viability of lithium projects. Additionally, the technology produces high-quality water as a byproduct, which can be used to minimize reliance on local freshwater resources in the lithium extraction process, a key factor in increasing water sustainability for the industry.
