Smirnov A. N., First Deputy General Director, JSC «Mekhanobr Engineering» (Russia), ansmirnov@mekhanobr.spb.ru.

The article considers the issues of effectiveness of capital investments, depending on a project's successfulness. An attempt is made to estimate modern approaches to realization of mineral deposits development projects, as well as existing ore and industrial minerals mining and processing operations rehabilitation and upgrade projects. Main stages, tasks and interests of project participants with regard to project documentation preparation stages and achievement of design performance are reviewed on the basis of design-engineering concepts' implementation results. The issues of successfulness and expediency of development and introduction of new type designs and type engineering solutions have been considered with regard to concetrating and crushing-and-screening plants, as well as pelletizing plants, taking into account uniqueness and actual singularity of each operating facility or processing complex. «Unit-by-unit» design methodology is presented in concise form, making use of separate successful model solutions, providing for optimum results in integration at pelletizing, crushing-and-screening and concentrating plants. General principles of useful models engineering for a model processing plant and their main attributes have been formulated on the basis of knowledge, accumulated by ZAO «Mekhanobr Engineering» in the area of R & D activities, as well as experience in supervision of mining-and-processing operations projects, technical check, inspection and designer's field supervision.