De-risking the build-out of domestic lithium refining capacity
Chris Celano is Chief Operating Officer of Stardust Power, directing operational execution, project delivery, and development of the company’s lithium refining platform. A seasoned industrial executive, he brings deep expertise in engineering, construction, project lifecycles, and risk management.
Previously, Chris served as President and CEO of IHI E&C International Corporation, leading global operations and large-scale industrial projects. He holds advanced degrees from MIT and NYU School of Law, alongside a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School.
Planning an Optimized Lithium Processing Facility
How a large-scale lithium refinery actually gets planned and delivered — aligning stakeholders through development, applying de-risking methodologies that protect capital and schedule, and using a systems dynamics view to onshore domestic lithium processing infrastructure.
- Navigating and resolving complex alignment challenges among critical project stakeholders during development
- Implementing proven de-risking methodologies to protect capital investments and project timelines
- Applying a systems dynamics approach to successfully onshore domestic lithium processing infrastructure
Other Speakers at Direct Lithium Extraction Xchange USA 2026
