The improved multi-purpose zone controlled blast furnace (10) and method of producing hot metal, gases and slags relates to the functioning of a blast furnace (56) as a high capacity hot metal or reducing gas producing unit. Methods are known for reducing "solution loss" by injecting reducing gas into a blast furnace, and for generating reducing gas from low cost material. However, the effectiveness of these methods is reduced by "solution loss" and excessive costs. The present invention overcomes these deficiencies by producing a reducing gas substantially free of CO2 and H2O in a blast furnace (56) from low cost materials and introducing such substantially free of CO2 and H2O into the side of a blast furnace (10) to substantially avoid "solution loss".