MUSKOGEE, Okla. — One of the largest lithium refineries in the entire country will be based in Green Country.

Stardust Power chose the site near West 53rd Street and Highway 64 in Muskogee because of its proximity to major highways, railroads, and waterways.

“We sell all day long the great transportation systems that we have here in Oklahoma,” said Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell.

He said Stardust Power choosing Oklahoma is a win.

“This is a big win for Oklahoma,” said Lt. Gov. Pinnell. “A big win for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to have one of North America’s largest lithium refineries here.”

He said battery-grade lithium is a material critical to the success of the United States, especially since President Donald Trump’s administration declared an energy crisis.

Lithium is used for electric vehicles and so much more.

“The refinery’s going to process and actually take all the minerals from brine to technical grade and battery grade so they can carbonate and make it ready for use for the batteries that the energy storage will require for the future,” said Paramita Das, Chief Strategy Officer for Stardust Power.

More than 70% of the refining capacity in the world is in China, which is one reason why Stardust Power is focusing an estimated $1.2 billion investment right here in the U.S.

“We are not going to go out to regions which are not U.S.-friendly. That’s one of our criteria,” said Das. “Our hope is to get as much U.S. material as possible from U.S. mines and thereafter from our locations which are in the North American sector.”

Muskogee Mayor Patrick Cale is excited about the creation of hundreds of jobs.

“To a community like Muskogee, that’s a big deal,” said Mayor Cale. “We’ll put in some housing. It will be good for our local businesses. Just building the plant itself is going to be good for the economy in eastern Oklahoma.”

Thanks to the Port of Muskogee, located on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, the inland port provides access to 20 states and globally through international ports.

“What really sets this city and this area of the state apart from a lot of other states is those transportation systems: ports, rail, highway. That really spoke their language and is helpful when it comes to the refinery process,” said Lt. Gov. Pinnell.

Stardust Power is expected to be up and running within the next two years.

For more information on Stardust Power, click here.