An apparatus includes a tuyere chamber, a plasma torch configured to produce a superheated gas and to direct the superheated gas into the tuyere chamber in an axial direction, and a shroud gas inlet assembly configured to direct a shroud gas into the tuyere chamber wherein one part of the shroud gas is injected coaxially with the super heated gas and a second part of the shroud gas is injected as a swirl shielding the tuyere walls.