The Conceptual Engineering Service is performed from the development of several alternatives (called Cases), based on the selection of the most convenient option for the established scenarios. Its main objective is to identify the technical and economic feasibility of the visualized alternatives and to establish the guidelines for the development of the subsequent stages of Basic, Extended Basic and Detailed Engineering.

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During this stage, the objectives desired by the client are set, the type of technologies to be applied are studied, the framework of technical standards that will regulate the designs, the different systems that will be part of the Project, the space requirements and the conceptual technical specifications and the philosophy to be followed to define the subsequent detailed specifications are established.

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The cost estimate associated to the Project in this phase is established as Class 4 with the objective of evaluating the feasibility of the Project and a preliminary approval of the associated budget in order to define the execution of the following stages.

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The service is broken down into the following stages:

1. Recognize and define the problem at a conceptual level.

2. Evaluate technically and economically the solution alternatives.

3. Define the risk level of the different solution alternatives.

4. Select the best option from a risk-return point of view or recommend not to continue with the project studies.

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The main concepts, activities and work to study, analyze, define and develop in this type of service are:

• Define the problem at a conceptual level.

• Define the risk level.

• Products and production capacity.

• Required standards and regulations.

• Description of the manufacturing process and user requirements.

• General installation description.

• Plan, block diagrams, room layout, material and people flow plans, classified area plans, basic process diagrams.

• Estimation of auxiliary services requirements.

• Preliminary equipment list.

• Provision for future expansions.

• Feasibility of having inputs, ancillary services and raw materials.

• Economic estimate of operation and maintenance costs.

• Economic estimate of initial investment (CAPEX) = ± 30%.

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The deliverables developed in this stage of engineering are.​

• Design Basis.

• Alternatives Study.

• Project Execution Plan.

• Cost Estimate (CAPEX) of Class 4.

• Descriptive Memory.

• Preliminary Equipment List.

• Preliminary Services List.

• Preliminary Operation Logic.

• Preliminary General Arrangement Drawings.​