MOSCOW, May 15 /PRNewswire/ --

Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces a new appointment to the management at its Southern Kuzbass OAO coal mining subsidiary.

Victor Skulditskiy (50), who previously held the position of Director of Coal Concentration and Processing Division, was appointed Managing Director of Southern Kuzbass OAO. Mr. Skulditskiy succeeded Sergei Popov, who was Acting Managing Director and now becomes the First Deputy Managing Director - Director for Operations.

Previously, Mr. Skulditskiy was Director of Southern Kuzbass OAO's branch, Coal Concentration and Processing Division, from August 2006 to May 2008. From November 2005 to August 2006, he was Director of Southern Kuzbass OAO's branch - Kuzbass Central Processing Plant OAO. From December 1991 to October 2005, he held various positions at Kuzbass Central Processing Plant OAO, with his last position being Director of Kuzbass Central Processing Plant OAO. He held various positions at Taybinskaya and Cherkasovskaya Coal Processing Plants and Kuzbass Coal Processing and Southern Kuzbass Coal production associations from December 1979 to December 1991.

Mr. Skulditskiy graduated from the Kuzbass Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Mining Engineering and a concentration degree in Mineral Processing. He was awarded Russia's miner golden badge, special contribution to Kuzbass development medal, and miner's glory badge.

"Mr. Skulditskiy has worked in the Kuzbass mining industry for almost thirty years, of which twenty five years he has held executive positions. He is a highly qualified and experienced professional. While heading the Kuzbass Central Processing Plant, he managed to raise its efficiency and productivity, and implemented modern technologies as well. As a result of Mr. Skulditskiy's efforts, the plant's plans of concentrate output were regularly overfulfilled with the plant having switched to application of cost and power saving production schemes. There are no doubts that, under Mr. Skulditskiy's direction, Kuzbass Central Processing Plant OAO will achieve strong operational and financial results going forward," Mechel Management OOO Chief Executive Officer Vladimir Polin said.

Mechel is one of the leading Russian companies. Its business includes three segments: mining, steel, and power. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore concentrate, nickel, steel, rolled products, hardware, heat and electric power. 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.

Ilya Zhitomirsky of Mechel OAO, +7-495-221-88-88, ilya.zhitomirsky@mechel.com