Process for producing a hydrogen-containing product gas suited for operating in regions where the ambient conditions are below freezing for extended periods of time during the winter and warm or hot during the summer months. Hot makeup water is provided to the process to avoid freezing. A portion of the hot makeup water stream is heated in a steam generator to make steam where the steam is used to heat incoming hydrocarbon feed for the process. Another portion of the hot makeup water stream may be heated by combustion product gases where the heated water stream is used to heat incoming combustion oxidant.
