FIELD: metallurgy. SUBSTANCE: in the method of production of sponge iron from finely divided material containing ferrous or ferric oxide, the material containing ferrous or ferric oxide is reduced into sponge iron in reducing zone with the help of reducing gas, and gas formed in the process of reduction is withdrawn as top gas which is cleaned from carbon dioxide mixed with oxygen-containing gas and burnt, and formed heat energy is supplied to user. The plant for embodiment of the method has shaft furnace for carrying out reduction process provided with pipeline for supply of reducing gas, for instance, from melting gasifier, pipeline for withdrawal of top gas accommodating device for gas cleaning from carbon dioxide. Branched from gas cleaning device is pipeline for supply of top gas cleaned from carbon dioxide to reducing shaft furnace through device for heating of top gas cleaned from carbon dioxide. Device for cleaning top gas from carbon dioxide alongside with pipeline supplying cleaned gas to heating device has pipeline supplying oxygen-containing gas for heating device. EFFECT: efficiency utilization of top gas formed in ore reduction. 19 cl, 3 dwg, 6 tbl
