A mixture of iron ore and fuel is reduced in an externally heated rotary retort. The gases are exhausted and constitute the fuel when the process has been started. The gases, after purification, are passed through combustion rings surrounding the retort and are burned according to the method of catalytic combustion. After reduction, the charge is cooled when it is poured through a layer of fluxing material; it is then transferred to a steelmaking furnace.