A process for producing methanol, comprising the steps of: providing an air stream having an oxygen content less than 22%; enhancing the oxygen content of the air stream to between 28% and 94% oxygen thereby creating an enhanced oxygen stream; providing a natural gas stream comprising methane; partially oxidizing the natural gas stream in an autothermal reformer using the enhanced oxygen stream to create a synthesis gas stream comprising H 2, CO, and CO 2 and N 2; wherein the synthesis gas stream comprises at least 6 mole % N 2 and wherein the synthesis gas stream comprises H 2, CO, and CO 2 in a ratio of (H 2 - CO 2)/(CO 2 + CO), which is less than 1.80; combining the synthesis gas stream with a hydrogen-rich gas stream to form a makeup gas stream, wherein the synthesis gas stream composition remains substantially unchanged after exiting the autothermal reformer until combined with the hydrogen-rich gas stream; combining the makeup gas stream with a recycle gas stream to produce a reactor feed stream; introducing the reactor feed stream into a reactor system containing a methanol conversion catalyst; wherein a portion of the reactor feed stream is converted to methanol; withdrawing a reacted gas stream from the reactor system; separating the reacted gas stream into a crude methanol product stream and a gas stream; splitting the gas stream into a recycle gas stream and a purge gas stream; combining the recycle gas stream with the makeup gas stream to form the reactor feed stream; separating the purge gas stream into a fuel gas stream comprising CH 4, and N 2 and a hydrogen-rich stream comprising H 2; and mixing the hydrogen-rich stream into the synthesis gas stream. providing an air stream having an oxygen content less than 22%; enhancing the oxygen content of the air stream to between 28% and 94% oxygen thereby creating an enhanced oxygen stream; providing a natural gas stream comprising methane; partially oxidizing the natural gas stream in an autothermal reformer using the enhanced oxygen stream to create a synthesis gas stream comprising H 2, CO, and CO 2 and N 2; wherein the synthesis gas stream comprises at least 6 mole % N 2 and wherein the synthesis gas stream comprises H 2, CO, and CO 2 in a ratio of (H 2 - CO 2)/(CO 2 + CO), which is less than 1.80; combining the synthesis gas stream with a hydrogen-rich gas stream to form a makeup gas stream, wherein the synthesis gas stream composition remains substantially unchanged after exiting the autothermal reformer until combined with the hydrogen-rich gas stream; combining the makeup gas stream with a recycle gas stream to produce a reactor feed stream; introducing the reactor feed stream into a reactor system containing a methanol conversion catalyst; wherein a portion of the reactor feed stream is converted to methanol; withdrawing a reacted gas stream from the reactor system; separating the reacted gas stream into a crude methanol product stream and a gas stream; splitting the gas stream into a recycle gas stream and a purge gas stream; combining the recycle gas stream with the makeup gas stream to form the reactor feed stream; separating the purge gas stream into a fuel gas stream comprising CH 4, and N 2 and a hydrogen-rich stream comprising H 2; and mixing the hydrogen-rich stream into the synthesis gas stream.