A method and an apparatus for advantageously introducing a 
flame and a 
high velocity oxidizing gas into a furnace for 
metal melting, refining and 
processing, particularly steel making in an 
electric arc furnace. The steel making process of an 
electric arc furnace is made more efficient by shortening the time of the 
scrap melting phase and introducing an effective 
high velocity oxidizing gas 
stream into the process sooner to decarburize the melted 
metal. In one implementation of an apparatus, improved efficiency is obtained by mounting a fixed burner / lance closer to the hot face of the furnace 
refractory at an effective injection angle. This mounting technique shortens the distance that the 
flame of the burner has to melt through the 
scrap to clear a path to the 
molten metal and shortens the distance the 
high velocity oxygen from the lance travels to the 
slag-
metal interface thereby increasing its penetrating power. The method additionally includes supplying a plurality of reaction zones with the high velocity oxidizing gas to decarburize the melted metal. The plurality of reaction zones increases the surface area available for the reaction thereby allowing a more 
rapid rate of 
decarburization and a more homogenous metal bath. The reaction zones are supplied with the high velocity oxidizing gas according to an 
oxygen supply profile which is related to the carbon content of the metal bath. In this manner an optimal amount of 
oxygen can be introduced into the metal bath to shorten the 
decarburization process without producing excessive oxidation of the metal bath and excessive free oxygen in the furnace.