Disclosed is a burner for the partial combustion of a solid carbonaceous fuel wherein coal, e.g., finely divided coal, is supplied to a reactor space via a central channel disposed along the longitudinal axis of the burner, and oxygen-containing gas is supplied via an annular channel surrounding said central channel, and heat from the combustion is removed from the hollow front face of the burner by coolant flowed through said front face spirally about the longitudinal axis of the burner.