Major Strategic Step for Stardust Power
Lithium processor Stardust Power Inc. announced another major step in its plans to turn its Muskogee facility into a major source for battery-grade lithium carbonate.
However, incremental progress by Stardust Power shows steady execution discipline through staged development steps rather than speculative accelerated scale signaling.
Additionally, anchoring supply inside the United States reinforces domestic value chain alignment for Oklahoma Energy sector adjacency.
The Connecticut-based firm announced it entered into a Letter of Intent with Mandrake Resources Inc. to secure 7,500 metric tons per annum of lithium carbonate equivalent in the form of lithium chloride from Mandrake’s Utah Lithium Project.
Therefore, reliable feedstock sourcing capacity helps derisk refinery development sequencing.
Secure U.S. Supply Path for Muskogee
The lithium chloride will feed directly into Stardust Power’s processing facility in Muskogee, Oklahoma, providing a reliable, U.S. sourced supply as the company advances toward its Final Investment Decision and the start of major construction.
Also, domestic resource integration supports U.S. industrial strengthening strategy aligned with critical mineral policy frameworks.
Stardust Power is building a strategically located lithium refinery in Muskogee, Oklahoma, with the capacity to produce up to 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually.
Executive Alignment
“We see strong strategic alignment between Mandrake’s Utah Lithium Project and our vision for a fully integrated American lithium supply chain,” said Pablo Cortegoso, Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder of Stardust Power.
Additionally, third-party LOI structuring supports optionality for feedstock sourcing diversity inside refinery scaling models.
“The project is a well-positioned U.S. brine asset with a clear path to development, offering scale, access to existing infrastructure, and a large brine resource that could be advanced efficiently with limited capital intensity. Utah’s regulatory stability and federal support for domestic critical minerals development make it one of the most compelling jurisdictions for lithium growth.”
Geographic Logistics Advantage
The Utah project benefits from proximity to key transport routes and established infrastructure, enabling straightforward delivery to the Port of Muskogee, situated in close proximity to the Stardust Power site.
The Utah supply deal further validates Stardust Power’s model of a large central refinery strategically located in the center of the country.
This geographic advantage provides the ability to source from multiple suppliers from varying jurisdictions.
Mandrake Resources’ lithium chloride will complement Stardust Power’s centralized refinery model, designed to efficiently process multiple chloride inputs.
This flexibility allows the Company to optimize production, maintain consistent output, and aggregate and integrate additional lithium sources as they come online.
By securing a quality, U.S.-sourced feedstock from Mandrake, Stardust Power reinforces its role as a critical hub for domestic lithium supply and strengthens its position with customers and strategic partners.
Agreement Structure
The Agreement covers a twelve-year term with an optional six-year extension at the Company’s discretion, potentially providing up to 18 years of dependable supply.
The agreement is non-binding and is subject to the execution of a definitive purchase agreement.
This strategic step enhances Stardust Power’s financing options, reduces development risk, and demonstrates tangible progress toward full-scale operations at the Muskogee, Oklahoma site.
Resource Scale and Regional Context
The Utah Lithium Project is a large-scale lithium asset located in the northern Paradox Basin, part of the U.S. “lithium four corners” region.
The project hosts an Inferred Resource of 3.3 million tons of LCE and sits in a region historically known for lithium-rich, hypersaline brines as well as other strategic minerals such as boron, potassium, and magnesium.
The site benefits from proximity to established mineral operations and infrastructure, with shallow and deep aquifers suitable for brine extraction, and access to re-enterable oil and gas wells for sampling and test work.
“We look forward to working with Stardust Power to deliver lithium chloride from our Utah project,” said James Allchurch, Managing Director, Mandrake Resources Inc. “This agreement highlights the strategic fit of our location, leveraging established infrastructure and transport links, and strengthens the domestic lithium supply chain by ensuring a reliable, long-term partnership in producing battery-grade lithium carbonate materials.”
Permitting and Execution Track
Stardust Power continues to advance permitting and site preparation activities, positioning the Company to deliver battery-grade lithium carbonate efficiently and at scale, in support of the growing North American electric vehicle and energy storage markets.
