Abstract: A process for smelting iron-containing source material in a reactor containing a slag bath, includes generating heating and reducing conditions in at least one reducing region of the bath by injection of fuel/reductant and oxygen-containing gas by at least one top submerged lance. The source material is fed to the reactor together with additional reductant and with flux at or adjacent the at least one reducing region so as to be subjected to smelting reduction, using coal as the additional reductant. The rates of injection of oxygen and fuel/reductant are controlled to achieve required and sufficient reducing conditions by providing the injected gas with an oxygen content from about 40% to about 100% sufficient for a degree of combustion of the fuel/reductant of from about 40% to about 50%. The CO and H.sub.

Abstract: The top-submergable injection lance has an elongate conduit which extends between upper and discharge ends and defines a bore, for the supply of reactants, through the conduit and an annular, alloy steel tip at the discharge end. The conduit comprises an inner pipe defining the bore, an outer pipe, and a third pipe which divides an annular volume between the inner and an outer pipes for circulation of coolant fluid. The tip is defined by inner and outer peripheral surfaces merging at a sharp lower edge and a top surface extending between the peripheral surfaces. The top surface of the tip joins the inner and outer pipes so as to be contactable by the coolant fluid. The frusto-conical inner peripheral surface provides a continuation of the bore which increases in cross-section to an opening at the lower edge.