Stardust Power Confirms No Industrial Wastewater Permit Required for Oklahoma Lithium Facility

Rhea-AI Summary

Stardust Power (SDST) has received confirmation that its planned lithium processing facility in Muskogee, Oklahoma will not require an industrial wastewater discharge permit from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). This milestone is attributed to the company's innovative closed-loop water system, which recycles water and eliminates wastewater discharge.

The company has already secured the General Permit for Stormwater Discharges and completed its Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). Additionally, SDST's Minor Source Air Permit is under technical review by ODEQ. The facility's design minimizes dependency on municipal water supplies and demonstrates the company's commitment to environmental stewardship in lithium production.

[ "Elimination of wastewater discharge permit requirement accelerates project timeline", "Closed-loop water system reduces operational costs and regulatory compliance expenses", "Secured General Permit for Stormwater Discharges and completed SWPPP", "Minor Source Air Permit under technical review, showing permitting progress" ]

Insights

Environmental Regulatory Expert

Stardust Power's permit exemption accelerates timelines, reduces costs, and validates their eco-friendly closed-loop water system design.

Stardust Power's announcement that they don't require an industrial wastewater discharge permit for their Muskogee lithium facility represents a meaningful regulatory milestone. This determination by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality stems from the company's implementation of a closed-loop water system that recycles process water and eliminates wastewater discharge to public treatment facilities or waterways.

The closed-loop system design yields three tangible benefits: accelerated project timelines by removing a regulatory hurdle, reduced compliance costs through simplified ongoing regulatory requirements, and conservation of municipal water resources after initial tank filling. This is particularly significant for lithium processing, which traditionally requires substantial water usage.

The company has already secured their Stormwater Discharge Permit and completed their Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, key prerequisites for beginning construction. Their Minor Source Air Permit application has been deemed administratively complete and is under technical review by ODEQ - the final major permit typically needed before full-scale construction.

This permitting progress suggests Stardust is executing efficiently on their regulatory strategy. The wastewater permit exemption specifically differentiates them from competitors who may face longer permitting timelines and higher operational costs related to wastewater treatment. By designing environmental compliance into their process from the beginning, Stardust may avoid costly retrofits and regulatory challenges that have plagued other mining and processing facilities.

GREENWICH, Conn., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stardust Power Inc. ("Stardust Power" or the "Company"), an American developer of battery-grade lithium products, today announced a significant update to its permitting process. Following a determination process by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), the Company has confirmed that no industrial wastewater discharge permit will be required for its planned lithium processing facility in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

This determination stems from Stardust Power’s use of a closed-loop water system, which recycles water during the process and eliminates wastewater discharge to public treatment facilities or natural waterways. The Company’s environmentally responsible design minimizes dependency on city or county water supply after the initial filling of the facility’s tanks, while also significantly reducing wastewater generation.

“Not requiring a water permit speaks to how clean a facility we have designed,” said Roshan Pujari, CEO and Founder of Stardust Power. “Our closed-loop system significantly reduces water needs and discharge volumes. Tanks are filled and reused in processing, minimizing the impact on municipal water systems. Unlike some operations that place heavy demands on local water resources, we are proud to be planning a sustainable solution that aligns with our commitment to environmental stewardship.”

This design, which precludes the need for permitting delivers several meaningful advantages for Stardust Power’s planned operations. First, it allows for accelerated project timelines, enabling the company to move efficiently through development and expansion phases. Additionally, it results in reduced regulatory compliance costs. Most importantly, the careful design work preserves municipal potable water for other uses within the community and minimizes costs associated with purchasing water.

Stardust Power is making steady progress across other key permitting milestones. The Company has previously announced and secured the General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, enabling construction activities to move forward. In support of this permit, Stardust Power has completed its Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), which incorporates best-in-class practices to responsibly manage stormwater and protect the surrounding environment. The company’s Minor Source Air Permit has been deemed administratively complete by ODEQ and is now under technical review. Stardust Power’s team remains actively engaged with regulators and is responding promptly to all information requests.

Stardust Power is dedicated to sustainable lithium manufacturing through the use of lithium brines as its feedstock and by prioritizing water conservation. The Company integrates water stewardship into every stage of its operations, from exploration to production, meeting or exceeding all regulatory standards while maximizing water reuse and recycling to reduce freshwater demand.

“Water is a finite and shared resource,” Mr. Pujari added. “We’re not just building a processing facility; we’re building a future-minded supply chain that supports clean energy without compromising community resources.”

About Stardust Power Inc.

Stardust Power is a developer of battery-grade lithium products designed to bolster America’s energy leadership by building resilient supply chains. Stardust Power is developing a strategically central lithium processing facility in Muskogee, Oklahoma with the anticipated capacity of producing up to 50,000 metric tons per annum of battery-grade lithium. The Company is committed to sustainability at each point in the process. Stardust Power trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “SDST.”

For more information, visit www.stardust-power.com

Stardust Power Contacts
For Investors:
Johanna Gonzalez
investor.relations@stardust-power.com

For Media:
Michael Thompson
media@stardust-power.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements.” Such forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “forecasted,” “projected,” “potential,” “seem,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or otherwise indicate statements that are not of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: the ability of Stardust Power to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain key relationships and retain its management and key employees; risks related to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Stardust Power; risks related to the price of Stardust Power’s securities, including volatility resulting from changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Stardust Power plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Stardust Power’s business and changes in the combined capital structure; and risks related to the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations and identify and realize additional opportunities. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. 

Stockholders and prospective investors should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in documents filed by Stardust Power from time to time with the SEC.

Stockholders and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which only speak as of the date made, are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks, assumptions and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Stardust Power. Stardust Power expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations of Stardust Power with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

FAQ

What permits has Stardust Power (SDST) secured for its Oklahoma lithium facility?

Stardust Power has secured the General Permit for Stormwater Discharges, completed its SWPPP, and confirmed no industrial wastewater permit is required. Its Minor Source Air Permit is under technical review.

How does Stardust Power's closed-loop water system work in its Oklahoma facility?

The closed-loop system recycles water during processing, eliminating wastewater discharge to public treatment facilities or waterways. It only requires initial tank filling and minimizes dependency on municipal water supplies.

What are the benefits of SDST's water management system for its Oklahoma lithium facility?

The system accelerates project timelines, reduces regulatory compliance costs, preserves municipal water resources, and minimizes water purchase costs through efficient recycling and reuse.

Where is Stardust Power's new lithium processing facility located?

The facility is located in Muskogee, Oklahoma.