A Preliminary Economic Assessment (or PEA) is a report meant for conceptual planning, screening business investments and for research and development projects. M3 will work with clients during early stages of a project to help them make key decisions regarding future work, including which processes and designs make the most sense, and will recommend which additional studies to perform as well as which efforts would provide the most long-term benefit.
Pre-feasibility studies are meant to help screen options, compare technologies, and move a project closer to construction. During the pre-feasibility stages of a project, we provide engineering assistance and other guidance based on our years of expertise. Our collaborative efforts with the client and consultants will typically culminate in a final report issued to the project owner.
We have produced countless feasibility studies in our project history, which have proven reliable for our clients throughout construction, validating the utility of our designs and accuracy of our cost estimates. We approach feasibility studies with one goal: technical and commercial accuracy provided in a timely fashion. In terms of costs, neither conservative nor optimistic approaches are taken; assumptions are clearly provided to our clients, so they can manage risks and management reserve funding accordingly.
Although the term "feasibility study" normally carries a specific meaning that requires completing higher degrees of engineering definition, feasibility studies as a more general term can be performed at many levels of detail, and can range from short letter reports to multiple volumes. They typically fall into these categories:
- Preliminary Scoping Analysis (often done by Owner)
- Tradeoff studies for unit operations
- Scoping Study (Preliminary Economic Analysis)
- Pre-Feasibility Study
- Feasibility Study
- NI 43-101 Technical Report (any of the above to Toronto Stock Exchange guidelines)
- JORC Report (any of the above to Australian Joint Ore Reserves Committee Code guidelines)
Our technical writers ensure that the resulting Technical Report complies with industry standards for readability, format, and presentation. Types of projects studied have included, among others:
- Hard Rock Mining, Ore Beneficiation Plants
- Cement and Limestone Plants
- Industrial Mineral Plants
- Chemical Plants and Acid Plants
- Reclamation and Water Treatment Projects
- Material Handling and Conveying
- Sea Port Design - Loadin and Loadout
- Large Telescopes
- High Tech Manufacturing Projects
- Power Industry
We coordinate, write, compile, and contribute to reports used for public stock exchange filings. One of the most common types of public report for the mining industry is governed by Canadian National Instrument 43-101. These Technical Reports disclose key information pertinent to those investing in mining projects. Certified Qualified Persons within our company provide professional opinions and serve as authors on subjects such as:
- Process
- Metallurgy
- Environmental
- Capital and Operating Costs
- Financial Modeling (including sensitivities on a project’s NPV and IRR)
For projects requiring it, M3 has produced information for reports compliant with the Australian Joint Ore Reserves Committee Code. Certified persons within our company provide professional opinions and serve as authors on the same subjects as we address in NI 43-101 Technical Reports.