Targoviste, Romania – October 27, 2008 – Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces the establishment of its East-European Steel Division on the bases of its Romanian steel subsidiary, Mechel Targoviste.

Following the acquisition of Ductil Steel in the spring of 2008, Mechel Group owned four steel companies in Romania: Mechel Targoviste, Mechel Campia Turzii, Ductil Steel Buzau steel rolling mill, and Otelu Rosu steel melting plant. In order to enhance the performance and efficiencies of these subsidiaries, Mechel has now established its East-European Steel Division on the bases of Mechel Targoviste, effective October 22, 2008.

The main objective of the Division is to coordinate the operations of Mechel’s Romanian subsidiaries including investments, modernization, streamlining, and production cost reduction efforts through the implementation of efficient logistics planning, raw material acquisition and product marketing across the subsidiary. Additionally, the Division is engaged in human resources policy and coordinates contacts with banks and financial institutions. The main priority of the Division is the modernization of the Otelu Rosu, Ductil Steel Buzau, and Campia Turzii plants.

“Establishing the new Division will enable Mechel to significantly increase the efficiency of managing Mechel’s Romanian subsidiaries. We are pleased that this entity will be headed by an experienced specialist, Vyacheslav B. Shmyga. Working as the Director of Mechel Targoviste, Mr. Shmyga successfully implemented technical re-equipment and production cost optimization programs that have resulted in the subsidiary earning profits for the first time in recent years. Mr. Shmyga has been assigned with the task to achieve similar results at Mechel’s other Romanian subsidiaries,” Mechel Management OOO Chief Executive Officer Vladimir Polin noted.