In order to be independent of the situation in regard to methane and natural gas and at the same time to obtain a heating gas there is employed in the hydrocyanic acid-methane-ammonia process (the BMA process) in place of methane an alkanol or alkanediol having 2-4 carbon atoms, preferably ethyl alcohol, and this is reacted with ammonia in a C:N ratio of 0.8:1 to 2:1. Optionally additional hydrogen can be present.