Moscow, Russia – February 13, 2009 – Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces changes to management of Mechel Mining OAO, its mining subsidiary.

Alexander Shmokhin has been appointed the position of Chief Executive Officer of Mechel Mining OAO holding company. At this position he succeeds Igor Khafizov, who had served as both Mechel Mining OAO Chief Executive Officer and Mechel Mining Management Company OOO Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Khafizov continues to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Management Company of the mining holding, and will concentrate on operational management of Mechel Mining subsidiaries.

Mr. Shmokhin has extensive experience in mining industry management, profitability improvement, and crisis management. His responsibilities will also include managing Mechel Mining OAO subsidiaries’ cooperation with state authorities of the regions in which they reside.

Together, Mr. Shmokhin and Mr. Khafizov will be able to ensure high-level management of the Company’s mining assets, allowing for especially careful and integrated management of various dimensions of the mining subsidiaries as well as the whole of Mechel Mining holding’s operations in the face of the current global economic crisis.

Biography:

Mr. Alexander V. Shmokhin, age 66, was appointed Mechel OAO Executive Vice President for Kuzbass in 2004. From 2001 to 2004 he was Director of Kemerovo Office – Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company OAO. From 1997 to 2001 he held the position of Director of Mezhdurechensk Coal Company OAO Branch. From 1991 to 1997 he was Chief Expert of the Coal Industry Department of the Committee for Interindustry Coordination and Industrial Cooperation, Head of the Directorate for Industry, Transport and Communications of the Kemerovo Region Executive Committee. Mr. Shmokhin graduated from Kemerovo Mining Institute with a major in mining engineering.