A method for operating a shaft furnace is performed by charging different ore/coke ratio mixture in radially different positions in the furnace. The ore/coke mixture ratio may be determined according to desired heat distribution in radial direction. For this, at least two mutually independently determined ore/coke mixture ratio mixtures are provided in each charge cycle of the burden. The mixture to be charged in the central portion of the furnace may have a higher coke content or a lower ore content for better permeability to the heating gas.