Reducing carbon consumption, and, consequently, CO2 emissions during iron smelting in blast furnaces is a priority for improving the technology of blast furnace smelting. In the literature, the question of the influence of the development of direct reduction of iron on the consumption of carbon as a source of reducing gas and a source of heat has been considered. In this case, the development of direct reduction in the lower zone of the furnace at temperatures above 900 °C is considered. However, direct (solid-phase) reduction can be implemented in the upper zone of a blast furnace when using ore-coal briquettes in the charge. It is shown that the solid-phase reduction reactions can proceed at temperatures above 700 °C in the upper zone of a blast furnace during the reduction of Fe3O4 and FeO. At the same time, the apparent heat capacity of the charge increases and the temperature of the top gas decreases, which is confirmed by data on the operation of blast furnaces of NLMK PJSC, which use ore-coal briquettes. The raw materials for the production of briquettes are iron ore concentrate, sludge, blast furnace dust, aspiration dust. A bentonite and a cement are used as a binder. The briquettes contain 40-42% iron and 10-15% carbon. The theoretical analysis and statistical processing of data on the operation of blast furnaces led to the conclusion that the solid-phase reduction of iron oxides actively proceeds at temperatures below 900 °C. The results of experimental heats showed the use of briquettes allows to reduce the specific consumption of coke and the total carbon consumption of fuel. The prospects for the use of the briquettes are associated with an increase in their mechanical properties. The use of ore coal briquettes obtained from a concentrate with an iron content of 65-68% will reduce the rate of fuel carbon and CO2 emissions.