Moscow, Russia — February 17, 2012 – Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, reports that smelting production was temporarily halted at Mechel Targoviste and Ductil Steel Otelu Rosu plants due to problems with shipping in scrap because of severe weather conditions.

Starting February 18, smelting workshops at Mechel Targoviste and Ductil Steel Otelu Rosu will be temporarily halted due to problems with supplying the plants with scrap and other raw materials used in the production process.

Mechel-Steel Management Company OOO’s Chief Executive Officer Andrey Deineko commented: “Over the past few days, when transport in Romania was paralyzed due to severe snowstorms and abnormal freezing temperatures, the plants have been using their winter stores of scrap which by now are depleted. Judging by forecasts, the weather will allow us to resume supply shipments shortly.”.