MECHEL REPORTS SUSPENSION OF COAL MINING AT SOUTHERN KUZBASS COAL COMPANY’S
NEW-OLZHERASSK UNDERGROUND MINE

Moscow, Russia — February 27, 2012 – Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading
Russian mining and metals companies, announces that coal mining at Southern
Kuzbass Coal Company OAO’s New-Olzherassk Underground mine’s long wall face #
21-1-7 has been temporarily halted due to coal self-heating.
High levels of carbon monoxide were registered in New-Olzherassk Underground
mine’s long wall face # 21-1-7, which is proof of coal self-heating. Mining
operations are currently suspended.
Southern Kuzbass Coal Company OAO’s experts are working on measures to eliminate
self-heating. Remote sampling yields prompt information on the gas situation in
the production area, which is injected with a nitrogen-based foam.
The mine infrastructure, including its transport, ventilation system,
dewatering, power facilities and roadheaders, is in working condition and safe.
The timing for resumption of mining will be determined once the project for
eliminating self-heating is completed.
Suspension of the mine’s long wall face # 21-1-7 will not cause delay in coal
deliveries to customers since there is enough coal at the New-Olzherassk
Underground mine warehouse to ensure uninterrupted deliveries within the
company’s existing contractual obligations.
This year New-Olzherassk mine has mined over 250,000 tonnes of coal. The coal
produced at the mine is mostly used to produce PCI.
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Mechel OAO
Ekaterina Videman
Tel: + 7 495 221 88 88
ekaterina.videman@mechel.com

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Mechel is one of the leading Russian companies. Its business includes four
segments: mining, steel, ferroalloy and power. Mechel unites producers of coal,
iron ore concentrate, nickel, ferrochrome, ferrosilicon, steel, rolled products,
hardware, heat and electric power. Mechel products are marketed domestically and
internationally.
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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.
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.