Feasibility study vs DPR: differences and when you need each
By PMCEPC (NEEV INTERNATIONAL) · Updated
A feasibility study tests whether to proceed; a DPR prepares the project for approval and funding. Learn how they differ and how they fit together.
Two different questions
A feasibility study asks whether the project is worth doing. A Detailed Project Report asks how it will be done, at what cost and with what return. The first helps you decide; the second helps others approve and finance.
What a feasibility study covers
It examines demand, location options, technical alternatives, indicative cost, expected returns and key risks at a broad level. The aim is to rule options in or out cheaply. A good study often ends with a clear go, no-go or modify recommendation.
What a DPR adds
A DPR commits to a chosen option. It adds the design basis, quantities and a detailed cost estimate, an implementation schedule, a full financial model, environmental and social aspects, and the statutory and funding position. It is written for reviewers who must be able to verify the numbers.
Where technical due diligence fits
Technical due diligence is an independent review, usually for an investor or lender, of an existing or proposed project. It tests the assumptions in the feasibility study or DPR, the quality of design, cost, schedule and the contractor's capacity.
Which should you commission
If the idea is still open, start with a feasibility study. If the concept is settled and a bank, department or board needs a decision document, commission a DPR. Many promoters do both in sequence, reusing the study's data in the report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a feasibility study be upgraded to a DPR?
Yes. The market, site and technical findings carry forward, and the DPR adds detailed design basis, quantities, cost and the full financial analysis.
Which one do banks want?
Banks usually require a DPR or a bank-format project report for a loan. Ask your lender which they expect.
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