FORM 6-K

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

 

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

December 26, 2007

 

Commission File Number: 333-119497

 

MECHEL OAO

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

Krasnoarmeiskaya 1,

Moscow 125167

Russian Federation

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

 

Form 20-F x   Form 40-F o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

 

Yes o   No x

 

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(c) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

 

Yes o   No x

 

Note:  Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

 

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

 

Yes o   No x

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):

 


 

 



 

 

MECHEL ANNOUNCES COMMISSIONING OF A NEW EQUIPMENT COMPLEX AT ITS BELORETSK METALLURGICAL PLANT SUBSIDIARY

 

Beloretsk, Russia – December 26, 2007 – Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces that it has successfully implemented an investment development program at its steel subsidiary, Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant OAO (BMP). In line with this program, a modern equipment complex has been commissioned at BMP Workshop No.11 to produce high-tensile stabilized reinforcing wire strands for use in the construction industry.

 

The new equipment complex will enable BMP to manufacture 25,500 tonnes annually of a new type of product - stabilized reinforcing ropes. The new project cost is about RUR140.0 million (approximately US$6.0 million).

 

The complex includes a drawing line to manufacture high-tensile wire of 3.0 mm - 8.0 mm in diameter; lines to manufacture seven low relaxation wire strands of 6.0 mm - 18.0 mm in diameter; and lines for toroidal packaging of finished product coils.

 

The wire drawing and rope manufacturing lines were supplied by MFL of Italy, and the packaging line by H-BÖHL of Germany.

 

High-tensile stabilized reinforcing strands manufactured at BMP will be supplied to construction companies for manufacturing of prestressed concrete structures used in the most technologically advanced construction elements, such as bridges, high-rise buildings, and reinforced-concrete pressure pipes.

 

Commissioning of the new equipment complex at Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant is another stage in the implementation of Mechel’s capital investment program, which is aimed at improving product quality, increasing output, and generating additional profit through production cost reductions and expanding product mix to include a greater portion of higher value-added products.

 

***

 

Mechel OAO
Ilya Zhitomirsky

Phone: + 7 495 221 88 88

ilya.zhitomirsky@mechel.com

 

***

 

Mechel is one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore, nickel, steel, rolled products, and hardware. Mechel products are marketed domestically and internationally.

 

***

 

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of Mechel, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S.

 

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Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements. We refer you to the documents Mechel files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in our Form 20-F, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the achievement of anticipated levels of profitability, growth, cost and synergy of our recent acquisitions, the impact of competitive pricing, the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and licenses, the impact of developments in the Russian economic, political and legal environment, volatility in stock markets or in the price of our shares or ADRs, financial risk management and the impact of general business and global economic conditions.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

MECHEL OAO

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Igor Zyuzin

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Igor Zyuzin

 

 

 

 

Title:

CEO

 

 

 

Date:  December 26, 2007

 

 

 

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