Moscow, Russia — February 15, 2012 – Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, reports that work was temporarily halted at Mechel Campia Turzii and Ductil Steel Buzau plants due to problems with shipping in raw materials because of severe weather conditions.

Over the past few days the two plants were cut off from major transport roads due to ceaseless snowstorms. Traffic of heavy-duty trucks along Romania’s routes was halted or limited. Railway operations are also severely limited. All this made it impossible to supply billets to Mechel Campia Turzii and Ductil Steel Buzau.

Ductil Steel Buzau and Mechel Campia Turzii are due to resume operations on February 22 and 24 respectively once the snowstorms’ effects are eliminated.

Chief Executive Officer of Mechel-Steel Management Company OOO Andrey Deineko commented on the situation by noting that the temporary halting of Mechel’s two Romanian steel plants will not affect the company’s production plans for the year.