Stardust Power Joins Cornerstone Consortium to Support U.S. Critical Minerals and Industrial Base Resilience

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Stardust Power (NASDAQ: SDST) joined the Cornerstone Consortium on Feb. 24, 2026, a DoD-aligned collaborative to strengthen U.S. critical minerals and industrial base resilience.

The company says membership supports acceleration of domestic lithium refining, aligns with federal incentives, and complements progress toward the Muskogee refinery construction and commissioning.

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GREENWICH, Conn., Feb. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stardust Power Inc. (NASDAQ: SDST) (“Stardust Power” or the “Company”), an American developer of battery-grade lithium carbonate, today announced that it has joined the Cornerstone Consortium, a U.S. Department of Defense aligned collaborative framework focused on strengthening the domestic industrial base and securing critical supply chains.

The Cornerstone Consortium brings together a broad range of domestically held organizations, including the U.S. Department of Defense, traditional and non-traditional defense contractors, small businesses, private equity firms, academic institutions, and federally funded research and development centers. The consortium supports collaboration across 18 industrial base sectors, including critical minerals & materials, to address capability gaps, supply chain vulnerabilities, and manufacturing resiliency essential to U.S. economic and national security.

Stardust Power’s participation aligns with Cornerstone’s focus on accelerating the research, development, qualification, and integration of critical manufacturing capabilities into U.S. supply chains. As a developer of domestic lithium refining capacity, the Company believes its involvement supports national efforts to reduce reliance on foreign-sourced critical minerals and strengthen the U.S. industrial ecosystem underpinning energy storage, electrification, and defense-adjacent technologies.

“Joining the Cornerstone Consortium reinforces our commitment to advancing secure, U.S.-based lithium supply chains that are critical to both economic competitiveness and national security,” said Roshan Pujari, Chief Executive Officer of Stardust Power. “As we advance our Muskogee refinery toward construction and commissioning, participation in Cornerstone allows us to engage alongside government, industry, and research partners focused on strengthening America’s critical minerals and manufacturing base.”

Cornerstone operates under a government-managed Other Transaction Agreement framework, providing an established mechanism for collaboration between the Department of Defense and industry participants to support industrial base expansion, address supply chain vulnerabilities, and accelerate the delivery of mission-critical capabilities. As U.S. policymakers intensify focus on critical minerals security, lithium refining is increasingly viewed as a national priority, supporting defense electrification, grid resilience, and broader industrial competitiveness. Federal incentives and funding pathways have also expanded to accelerate domestic processing capacity and reduce reliance on foreign-controlled supply chains. Stardust Power believes its participation in Cornerstone strengthens strategic alignment with these priorities as the Company advances the Muskogee refinery toward construction and commissioning.

About Stardust Power Inc.

Stardust Power is a developer of battery-grade lithium carbonate designed to bolster America’s energy security through resilient supply chains. The Company 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. Committed to sustainability at every stage, Stardust Power trades on Nasdaq under the ticker “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 

The foregoing material may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, including without limitation statements regarding the Company’s product development and business prospects. These statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding management’s expectations about future business strategies, financial performance, operating results, growth opportunities, market developments, competitive position, regulatory outlook, our perception of historical trends and current conditions, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “model,” “outlook,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “target,” “will,” “could,” “should,” or similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and assumptions that involve significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control and are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to: macroeconomic conditions; inflationary pressures; changes in interest rates; supply chain disruptions; evolving consumer demand; competitive and technological developments; regulatory or legal changes; litigation exposure; cybersecurity threats; and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, even if subsequent events cause expectations to change.

You should consult our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the “Risk Factors” section of its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings on Form 10-Q, for additional detail about the factors that could affect our financial and other results.

FAQ

Why did Stardust Power (SDST) join the Cornerstone Consortium on Feb. 24, 2026?

To align with U.S. efforts to secure critical minerals and strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity. According to the company, membership supports collaboration with DoD, industry, and research partners to accelerate lithium refining, reduce foreign reliance, and advance the Muskogee refinery toward construction and commissioning.

How does Stardust Power's (SDST) Cornerstone membership affect its Muskogee refinery timeline?

Membership signals strategic engagement but does not change published construction dates. According to the company, participation facilitates research, development, and qualification activities that may support the Muskogee refinery as it moves toward construction and commissioning.

What is the Cornerstone Consortium and how will SDST participate?

A DoD-aligned collaborative framework linking government, contractors, academia, and industry to shore up industrial base sectors. According to the company, Stardust Power will engage on critical minerals and manufacturing resiliency to advance domestic lithium processing capabilities.

Does Stardust Power (SDST) receive funding or contracts from joining Cornerstone?

Joining Cornerstone is a collaborative alignment and not an explicit funding award by itself. According to the company, the Other Transaction Agreement framework enables potential collaborative projects and pathways to federal incentives and funding opportunities for domestic processing capacity.

What strategic benefits does Cornerstone membership offer SDST shareholders (SDST)?

It aims to strengthen regulatory and industry alignment around domestic lithium supply chains. According to the company, membership may enhance access to partners, R&D collaboration, and alignment with federal incentives that support advancement of the Muskogee refinery.