An assessment of the current state of briquetting technology in the processes of iron smelting is given. In the appendix to the blast-furnace process, the importance of using ore-coal briquettes in the charge as a way to reduce the total carbon consumption and CO2 emission is shown for the first time. The role of solid-phase reduction processes in ore-coal blast-furnace briquettes in increasing the degree of CO utilization has been studied. Based on the generalization of practical experience, the dependence of the degree of CO utilization and the total carbon consumption on the share of briquettes in the ore part of the blast-furnace charge is demonstrated. The results obtained complement the previously proposed concept of partial replacement of sinter by briquettes as a part of briquetting and sintering synergy.