A process for the production of C2+ alcohols from a methane-containing feedstock which process comprises a) optionally reacting in a pre-reformer the methane-containing feedstock in the presence of steam, where the steam plus CO 2 to methane molar ratio is less than 5:1; b) reforming at least a portion of the methane-containing feedstock and/or output from optional step a) in a first reformer optionally in the presence of steam, where the steam plus CO 2 to methane molar ratio is less than 5:1 to produce a first product stream comprising CO, H 2 and CO 2 ; c) subjecting at least a portion of the first product stream to a reforming process in a second reformer in the presence of steam and oxygen to produce a second product stream comprising CO, H 2 and CO 2 ; d) subjecting the product streams to a bacterial fermentation process which uses acetogenic anaerobic bacteria in a fermenter to produce a third product stream comprising an aqueous solution of at least one C2+ alcohol, nutrients and reaction intermediates and a fourth product stream comprising CO, H 2 and CO 2 , the bacterial fermentation process being optionally performed in a plurality of fermenters; e) recycling at least a portion of the fourth product stream to the methane-containing feedstock and wherein, optionally, a portion of the H 2 of the fourth product stream is recovered and used as a fuel to fire the steam reformer; f) recovering at least a part of the at least one C2+ alcohols from the third product stream to leave a fifth product stream; g) cooling at least a part of the fifth product stream; and h) recycling at least a part of the cooled fifth product stream to the fermenter. a) optionally reacting in a pre-reformer the methane-containing feedstock in the presence of steam, where the steam plus CO 2 to methane molar ratio is less than 5:1; b) reforming at least a portion of the methane-containing feedstock and/or output from optional step a) in a first reformer optionally in the presence of steam, where the steam plus CO 2 to methane molar ratio is less than 5:1 to produce a first product stream comprising CO, H 2 and CO 2 ; c) subjecting at least a portion of the first product stream to a reforming process in a second reformer in the presence of steam and oxygen to produce a second product stream comprising CO, H 2 and CO 2 ; d) subjecting the product streams to a bacterial fermentation process which uses acetogenic anaerobic bacteria in a fermenter to produce a third product stream comprising an aqueous solution of at least one C2+ alcohol, nutrients and reaction intermediates and a fourth product stream comprising CO, H 2 and CO 2 , the bacterial fermentation process being optionally performed in a plurality of fermenters; e) recycling at least a portion of the fourth product stream to the methane-containing feedstock and wherein, optionally, a portion of the H 2 of the fourth product stream is recovered and used as a fuel to fire the steam reformer; f) recovering at least a part of the at least one C2+ alcohols from the third product stream to leave a fifth product stream; g) cooling at least a part of the fifth product stream; and h) recycling at least a part of the cooled fifth product stream to the fermenter. <EOS>