An empirical index to evaluate the sustainability of mining projects

This paper describes a new experimental index (the Project Evaluation Index (PEI)), defined to evaluate mining projects. The methodology is based on the use of cash flow charts to calculate the net values of investment projects. The proposal is to apply this methodology not only to economic aspects but also to the social situation, in addition to environmental and associated risks, and creating the corresponding flowcharts. These flowcharts thus express the difference between units of two kinds: the positive contribution of a certain project and the units that a project would subtract when being carried out.