Interesting question.
The bankable feasibility study is prepared by companies that want to take a project to production and will need financing...possibly from banks. It is more detailed than a preliminary study and would include:
- a resource estimate
- complete metalurgical studies assessing recoveries and milling/ refining requirements
- a complete mining assessment including mining infrastructure/methods and costs
- a production estimate of grades, annual production levels and costs
- estimates of IRR (internal rate of return) and payback period
- a risk assessment
These are only a few of the obviuos components. The purpose is to provide the lenders with the info required to make a decision on funding.
If a company is well funded and does not need to borrow they will not do a BFS in order to save money and time.
Just my 2 cents
SN