Windhoek Mines, Limited, of Namibia, is contemplating the purchase of equipment to exploit a mineral deposit on land to which the

company has mineral rights. An engineering and cost analysis has been made, and it is expected that the following cash flows would

be associated with opening and operating a mine in the area:

$*$Receipts from sales of ore, less out$-$of$-$pocket costs for salaries, utilities, insurance, and so forth.

The mineral deposit would be exhausted after four years of mining. At that point, the working capital would be released for

reinvestment elsewhere. The company's required rate of return is $18\%.$

Required:

a$.$ What is the net present value of the proposed mining project?

b$.$ Should the project be accepted?

Note: Enter negative amount with a minus sign. Round your final answer to the nearest whole dollar amount.