July 23. Mechel has started making long-term contracts for coke supplies with Russian consumers. In line with the company's announcement, Mechel has signed an agreement for coking coal supplies with the largest Russian metallurgical plant at a fixed price for 3Q 2008. "The company is currently considering the possibility of concluding even longer-term contacts on the domestic market", Mechel reported. The situation on the coking coal market has recently drawn special attention of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS). At first, FAS, concerned over possible growth of prices for coking coal and coal concentrate on the Russian market, filed requests to all key manufacturers in order to find out the volume of supplies to the internal market, pricing procedures and price performances. Last week, FAS accused three companies of the Mechel group, Mechel Trade House, Southern Kuzbass (RTS: UKUZ) and Yakutugol, of breaking the antimonopoly law. Particularly, FAS detected the violations expressed in groundless cessation of coal concentrate deliveries to NLMK by Mechel Trade House, and Mechel Trade House and Yakutugol's refusal to sign a contract for coal concentrate deliveries with NLMK.