Beloretsk, Russia – September 13, 2007 – Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces the completion of the quality management system audit at its Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant subsidiary (BMP OAO), resulting in the recertification of its compliance with the ISO 9001:2000 international standard.

Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant obtained its original certificate for the quality management system’s compliance with ISO 9001:2000, issued for three years, in 2003. Since then, the plant undergoes annual compliance audits to extend its effective certificate, and a recertification audit is conducted at the plant every three years to recertify its quality management system’s compliance with the standard. The latest regular compliance audit of the quality management system was completed at Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant in September 2007.

In the process of the audit, the auditors visited the plant’s many units and departments. They examined the quality management system processes for compliance with the internal document requirements and the requirements for ISO 9001:2000. In addition, the auditors met with the managing director of BMP OAO, Konstantin Nikolin. During the meeting the parties discussed BMP OAO’s current achievements and its plans for further improving the quality of its management system. Summarizing the audit results, the inspection agency noted that BMP OAO complies with all the requirements of ISO 9001:2000 and constantly develops its quality management system.