Abstract: A reducing gas high in H.sub.2 plus CO and low in H.sub.2 O plus CO.sub.2, and therefore suitable for steelmaking, is produced from hydrocarbons, e.g. methane, in a two-stage process. In the first stage, the hydrocarbon is partially combusted with oxygen the oxygen-hydrocarbon molar ratio being in the range 0.60 to 0.75. In the second stage, sufficient hydrocarbon is added to the off gas from the first stage, to raise the ratio of hydrocarbon (unoxidized hydrocarbon from the first stage plus added hydrocarbon in the second stage) to the sum of H.sub.2 O plus CO.sub.2, to the range 0.8-1.0, while bringing the oxygen to total hydrocarbon ratio (that introduced into the first stage plus that added in the second stage) to about 0.5. The second stage is an adiabatic catalytic conversion, preferably through two successive beds, the first of porous magnesia or alumina, and the second of nickel oxide catalyst supported on porous alumina or magnesia. The off gases from the second stage contain no more than 3.