NOVELTY - Production of hydrogen rich gas involves withdrawing effluent stream comprising synthesis gas from catalytic steam reformer; directly or indirectly introducing gaseous stream having effluent stream and oxidative stream having carbon dioxide (CO2) into first shift catalyst region, gaseous stream having carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H2O) into second shift catalyst region, oxidative stream comprising H2O or CO2 to second region of shift catalyst; reacting CO and H2O in second region of shift catalyst region to produce second region product stream comprising additional hydrogen and CO2.    USE - For producing hydrogen rich gas (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The risk of over-reduction of iron oxide-based shift catalyst resulting in structural deterioration of the catalyst is avoided by directly or indirectly adding an oxidative stream to gaseous feed stream to the shift reactor. By providing at least two gaseous feed streams to at least two regions of shift catalyst, over-reduction of the shift catalyst.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Production of hydrogen rich gas involves withdrawing effluent stream comprising synthesis gas from catalytic steam reformer; directly or indirectly introducing gaseous stream having effluent stream and oxidative stream having carbon dioxide (CO2) into first shift catalyst region, gaseous stream having carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H2O) into second shift catalyst region, oxidative stream comprising H2O or CO2 to second region of shift catalyst; reacting CO and H2O in second region of shift catalyst region to produce second region product stream; directly or indirectly introducing product stream into first region of shift catalyst; reacting CO and H2O in the first region of shift catalyst to produce additional H2 and CO2 forming first region product stream. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for an apparatus for producing hydrogen rich gas comprising a first shift catalyst region, a first gaseous stream source having a first gaseous stream; and at least one of a second shift catalyst region.