Abstract: A shaft kiln installation is used to burn pellets of solid materials containing volatile and/or solid fuels and at the same time to calcinate minerals. For this purpose, the installation uses in the heating, degassing (1,04) and combustion zones (1,06) a co-current flow of combustion gas. The installation has at least one first upper section (1,04;1,06) for carrying out the above-mentioned process steps. If necessary, a third counter-current cooling section (1,10) for the combustion material and a second, midddle section (1.08) that acts as a neutral zone, may be added. The heat content of the combustion gas and cooling air may be used for heating the combustion air.