FORM 6-K

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

 

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

May 22, 2008

 

Commission File Number: 333-119497

 

MECHEL OAO

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

Krasnoarmeyskaya 1,

Moscow 125993

Russian Federation

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

 

Form 20-F x   Form 40-F o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

 

Yes o   No x

 

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(c) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

 

Yes o   No x

 

Note:  Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

 

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

 

Yes o   No x

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):

 

 

 


 

 

MECHEL ANNOUNCES ANOTHER PHASE OF TECHNOLOGICAL MODERNIZATION AT ITS BELORETSK METALLURGICAL PLANT

 

Moscow, Russia – May 22, 2008 – Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces the commissioning of a new stranding machine and mine excavator at its Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant OAO (BMP) steel subsidiary.

 

The new stranding machine commissioned at BMP was manufactured by Mario Frigerio, Italy and has an annual capacity of over 4,000 ropes. It will enable BMP to start producing high quality ropes of 11.5 mm - 16.0 mm in diameter and increase its current output of 16.0 mm - 22.0 mm diameter ropes. The cost of the new project was about RUR40.0 million (approximately US$1.7 million).

 

BMP is currently one of the leading Russian producers of steel ropes with a wide array of products between 0.6 mm - 64 mm diameter for use in various applications. The new equipment will allow BMP to increase its presence in this market.

 

BMP also received a new modern Hitachi excavator designed to work at the Pugachev lime pit. The excavator is equipped with two buckets of 0.8 and 1.8 cubic meter capacity, and a hydrowedge, which will operate to crash oversized limestone for subsequent processing it at the crushing and screening plant. The new machine complies with modern technological requirements and is noted for its high capacity.

 

These actions were taken in line with BMP’s investment program aimed to improve the product quality, increase output, reduce production costs, and generate additional profit.

 

***

 

Mechel OAO
Ilya Zhitomirsky

Phone: + 7 495 221 88 88

ilya.zhitomirsky@mechel.com

 

***

 

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.

 


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

MECHEL OAO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Igor Zyuzin

 

 

 

 

Name:

Igor Zyuzin

 

 

 

 

Title:

CEO

 

Date:  May 22, 2008