HyperCoal is an ultra clean coal with ash content < 0.05 wt%. Catalytic steam gasification of HyperCoal was carried out with K2CO3 at 775-650 degrees C for production of H-2 rich gas and synthesis gas. The catalytic gasification of HyperCoal showed nearly four times higher gasification rate than raw coal. The major gases evolved were H-2: 63 vol%, CO: 6 vol% and CO2: 30 vol%. Catalyst was recycled for four times without any significant rate loss. The partial pressure of steam was varied from 0.5 atm to 0.05 atm in order to investigate the effect of steam pressure on H-2/CO ratio. The H-2/CO ratio decreased from 9.5 at 0.5 atm to 1.9 at 0.05 atm. No significant decrease in gasification rate was observed due to change in partial pressure of steam. Gasification rate decreased with decreasing temperature and become very slow at 650 degrees C. The preliminary results showed that HyperCoal, an ash less coal, could be a potential hydrocarbon resource for H2 and synthesis gas production at low temperature by catalytic steam gasification process. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.