Moscow, Russia — March 11, 2012 – Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, reports that smelting production at Otelu Rosu has been temporarily halted due to a contingency situation.

Ductil Steel Otelu Rosu plant’s electric arc furnace #2 was halted on March 10 due to technical reasons. As a result of a malfunction in the technological process, slag and steel went through the inner protective coating, with damage to the furnace and auxiliary communications.

The enterprise’s experts are currently assessing the situation and working out a complex of measures to eliminate the effects of the malfunction.