TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The carrier (a) is zirconium oxide; the promoter (b) is lanthanum oxide and/or cerium oxide; and (c) is nickel oxide and/or cobalt oxide. In particular (a) is zirconium oxide, (b) is lanthanum oxide, (c) is cobalt oxide and (I) has an X-ray diffractogram with lines and peaks at 2tau values (degrees) of 24.31 (w), 28.28 (vs), 31.52 (s), 40.84 (w), 44.94 (w), 50.24 (m), 55.56 (s), 62.96 (s), 71.32 (s), 77.44 (s) and 89.96 (vw) (where vs = very strong intensity (80-100% of the strongest peak); s = strong intensity (60-80%); m = medium intensity (40-60%); w = weak intensity (20-40%); and vw = very weak intensity (0-20%)).(I) contains 1-30 (preferably 5-11, especially 8-10) wt. % (b) and 1-15 (preferably 3-10, especially 5-7) wt. % (c).Preparation: Claimed preparation of (I) involves:(i) modifying (a) with (b);(ii) incorporating (c) in the product; and(iii) calcining the obtained catalyst precursor at at least 600 (preferably 600-900)degreesC.Preferably (a) is calcined before modification with (b); (b)-modified (a) is calcined before incorporating (c) (specifically at at least 700 (especially 750-900)degreesC); (c) is incorporated in modified (a) by an impregnation, solution adsorption, sol-gel, microemulsion or coprecipitation method; and the product is dried after incorporation of (c).Preferred Application: (I) is used for the production of a hydrogen-containing gas by catalytic reforming of bioethanol and/or ethanol (as hydrogen carrier), by reaction of the hydrogen carrier with water (preferably in vapor form) in presence of (I) at 600-900 (preferably 650-750, especially 695-705)degreesC, specifically under a pressure of 0-5 (especially 0-3) bars, particularly at atmospheric pressure. The volume ratio of hydrogen carrier to water is 1 : 1.25-5 (preferably 1 : 1.5-4), especially 1/2 to 1/3 (|\ 10%). The obtained hydrogen-containing gas is fed directly to a medium or high temperature fuel cell; or alternatively the gas is purified to convert at least part of any carbon monoxide present into carbon dioxide, followed by feeding the purified gas to an intermediate or low temperature fuel cell. EXAMPLE - A mixture of 5 g zirconium oxide support (modified with 10% lanthanum oxide and calcined at 800degreesC) and a solution of 1.299 g cobalt nitrate hexahydrate in 100 ml distilled water was subjected to a vacuum of 0.5-0.7 bars at 70degreesC under stirring at 20 rpm for 4 hours until totally dry. The obtained powder was dried at 110degreesC overnight, calcined in air at 750degreesC for 2 hours (heating rate 5degreesC per minute) and cooled slowly to room temperature. The obtained catalyst (Ia) was characterized by X-ray diffraction, and had a specific surface of 50 m2/g. After milling to a particle size of 0.42-0.50 mm, (Ia) was used in a tubular reactor for reforming ethanol in presence of water, at atmospheric pressure, 700degreesC and GHSV 76430 h-1. 100% Conversion of ethanol, with 55-60% selectivity to hydrogen, was obtained over a period of 500 hours.