The present invention relates to a shaft furnace as well as a method for operating a shaft furnace. For example, the present invention relates to methods for operating a shaft furnace which include charging an upper region of the shaft furnace with raw materials; the raw materials sink in the shaft furnace under the influence of gravity and a part of the raw materials is smelted an/or at least partially reduced under the effect of the atmosphere prevailing within the shaft furnace. The methods further comprise admitting an addition gas via at least one addition opening spaced from a lower admission opening and/or discharging a shaft furnace gas via a shaft furnace gas line to provide discharge of gaseous reaction products from the interior of the shaft furnace.