Abstract: A process for producing fuel gases from a solid fuel including carbonaceous material and having a calorific value of between about 800 to 3,000 Kcal/Kg. The process includes a) pyrolyzing the solid fuel under reaction conditions and for a time sufficient to pyrolyze about 40-80% of the carbonaceous material whereby to form a first gas and a carbon residue without formation of tar, and b) gasifying carbon residue to form a second gas by heating the carbon residue in the presence of oxygen or oxygen-steam; or burning the carbon residue. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second gases are mixed under conditions to neutralize contained sulfur gases by a Claus reaction.