An apparatus for reducing a metalliferous material in a fluidized bed includes a vessel for containing the fluidized bed, a mechanism for supplying the metalliferous material, a solid carbonaceous material, an oxygen-containing gas, and a fluidizing gas into the vessel for forming the fluidized bed in the vessel. The oxygen-containing gas supply mechanism includes one or more than one oxygen-containing gas injection lance having a lance tip with an outlet that is positioned for injecting the oxygen-containing gas in a downward flow into the vessel within a range of plus or minus 40° to the vertical.