FIELD: ferrous metallurgy. SUBSTANCE: iron ore is reduced into spongy iron in metal direct reduction zone, and spongy iron is then smelted in smelting- gasification zone into which carbon-containing material is supplied to be saturated with reductive gas and produce slag. Reductive gas produced is fed into metal direct reduction zone where it takes part in reaction and is withdrawn as blast furnace gas. Reductive and/or blast furnace gas is scrubbed and sludge separated in this process is dehydrated to attain a certain residual moisture, after which it is subjected to further treatment, supplemented with carbon dust and, as binder, with fast hardening lime. Resultant mixture is granulated, and granules are fed into smelting-gasification zone such as to increase slag basicity up to 1.25, preferably up to 1.20. These steps allow sludges taking part in direct reduction of iron ore to be returned into direct reduction zone in large amount with no effect on the overall process. EFFECT: enhanced economical efficiency of process. 6 cl, 1 dwg
