An oxygen steelmaking process utilizing also an inert gas to reduce the oxidation of a desired element such as chromium while permitting a desirably low carbon level to be reached, is characterized by recovery and recycling of the inert gas for economy. The inert gas is preferably argon and is preferably recovered by fractional distillation so as to reduce the nitrogen in the cycle stream and to recover and store and mix and reuse the argon and oxygen as desired. After removal of dust and carbon dioxide from the effluent gases from the converter, and prior to fractionation, 10-30% of the effluent gas is mixed with a minor part of the recovered oxygen and blown beneath the hood to limit air aspiration and to aid in the combustion of CO.