An integrated assessment framework for mining project investment appeal: bridging ESG compliance and digital maturity metrics

The article addresses the construction of a formalized analytical tool for comparative assessment of investment attractiveness in mining industry projects, combining financial and economic indicators, ESG compliance criteria, and production digitalization metrics within a unified calculation framework. 

The study use a system of decomposition techniques, weighted multi-attribute decision-making (MCDA), pairwise comparison via the AHP procedure, min-max rescaling of heterogeneous variables, and a managerial flexibility valuation approach calibrated to shifting regulatory conditions. A three-block indicator system was constructed, and an algorithm for standardization and aggregation into an integral investment index (III) was proposed. Practical validation was conducted using model data for three mining projects. 

The key finding is that a project with the minimum baseline NPV but high ESG and digital sub-index values outperforms competitors in the final ranking, indicating significant distortion of results when analysis is limited exclusively to financial metrics. The originality of the work is defined by the integration of financial analysis methods, ESG assessment, and digital maturity measurement into a unified formalized structure oriented toward the specifics of mining production.

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