Because　of　its　synthetic　and　complex　characteristics,　the　combustion　process　of　the　shaft　ore-roasting　furnace　is　very　difficult　to　control　stably.　A　hybrid　intelligent　control　approach　is　developed　which　consists　of　two　systems:　one　is　a　cascade　fuzzy　control　system　with　a　temperature　soft-sensor,　and　the　other　is　a　ratio　control　system　for　air　flow　with　a　compensation　model　for　heating　gas　flow　and　air-fuel　ratio.　This　approach　combined　intelligent　control,　soft-sensing　and　fault　diagnosis　with　conventional　control.　It　can　adjust　both　the　heating　gas　flow　and　the　air-fuel　ratio　in　real　time.　By　this　way,　the　difficulty　of　online　measurement　of　the　furnace　temperature　is　solved,　the　fault　ratios　during　combustion　process　is　decreased,　the　steady　control　of　the　furnace　temperature　is　achieved,　and　the　gas　consumption　is　reduced.　The　successful　application　in　shaft　furnaces　of　a　mineral　processing　plant　in　China　indicates　its　effectiveness.　©　2008　Editorial　Board　of　Control　Theory　and　Applications.