BELORETSK, Russia, September 13 /PRNewswire/ --

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.

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. 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.