Abstract: Carbonate-containing sinterable material, e.g. for cement clinker, is calcined in a rotary kiln and then cooled in a grate cooler. The material is subjected to preheating in a suspension preheater and then to precalcination in an upright precalcining installation. The fuel for the latter is introduced through nozzles into a substantially oxygen-free crude power exhaust gas suspension and after turbulent mixing of the fuel with this suspension a stoichiometric quantity of combustion air is introduced so that a flameless combustion occurs in the turbulent mixture. Thereafter the solids enter the rotary kiln for the final calcination.