Abstract: An annularly shaped piece (28) formed from refractory material is provided for a tundish (1) for continuous casting of metals for enclosing a plasma torch (18) for heating liquid metal (4). The interior wall (29) of the annularly shaped piece defines a space which widens with progression toward the bottom, the piece having an upper opening (30) and a lower opening and accommodating penetration of the lower end region of the torch (18) into the space. The annularly shaped piece (28) is fixed to a cover (24) or to the refractory walls (3) of the tundish (1), and/or is fixed to one or more dividing walls (10) which delimit a heating compartment (13) in the interior of said tundish (1), wherewith the space defined by the interior wall (29) of said piece (28) widens with progression toward the bottom of the tundish (1).