Previous studies have demonstrated that pre-reductionReduction of manganese ores using CO-rich off-gas can significantly reduce both energy use and carbon consumption. While this processProcess increases the CO2 concentration in the off-gas, substantial amounts of CO typically remain, necessitating further gas conditioning prior to CO2 capture and storage. This work investigates advanced pre-reductionReduction concepts designed to maximize the conversion of CO to CO2 directly within the processProcess, thereby minimizing downstream gas treatment requirements and maximizing energy and carbon savings. The analysis has been carried out using idealised simulationsSimulation in HSC Sim. The results indicate that avoiding CO combustion can potentially reduce the energy required for CO2 capture. In particular, CLCChemical Looping Combustion (CLC)-based cases show potential for delivering nearly pure CO2 streams while generating surplus heat that could offset pre-reductionReduction energy demands.