FIELD: production of liquid metal, particularly, liquid pig iron or steel liquid semifinished product from metal carriers, particularly, partially or fully reduced sponge iron realized in smelting-gasification apparatus. SUBSTANCE: method includes supply of carbon-containing material, oxygen or oxygen-containing gas, and smelting of metal carriers in a layer of carbon-containing material during simultaneous formation of reducing gas, possibly, after preceding full reduction. Charged fine coal and coal dust are subjected to drying, mixing in hot state with bitumen and cold briquetting. Produced briquettes are loaded in cold state into smelting-gasification apparatus where they are subjected to heat shock that makes it possible to load fine coal and dust into apparatus by economical method with provision of their participation in formation of carbon carriers layer. EFFECT: higher efficiency. 21 cl, 1 dwg, 1 tbl
