Abstract: A process for producing pig iron is described involving the use of a reduction shaft furnace 1 and a melt-down gasifier 2. The sponge iron produced from iron ore in the reduction shaft furnace is fed into the melt-down gasifier and converted into a pig iron melt. The gas produced in the melt-down gasifier is passed as reducing gas into the reduction shaft furnace both via a cyclone separator 11 and a line 12 and directly via a line 13. The top gas leaving the reduction shaft furnace, after passing through a scrubber 4, is largely returned via a CO.sub.2 scrubber 6, in which CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O are removed from the gas, in such a way that it can be used for forming the reducing gas in the melt-down gasifier and also as a cooling gas for the reducing gas produced in said gasifier.