NOVELTY - A method (P') of preparing a catalyst involves: a) preparing an aqueous solution comprising: i) an active component containing nickel (Ni), ii) a support component comprising magnesium (Mg) and aluminum (Al), and iii) a promoter component comprising at least one lanthanide metal; b) adjusting the pH of the solution to at least 8 to thereby form a slurry comprising a co-precipitate of (i), (ii) and (iii); and c) separating the co-precipitate from the aqueous solution to form the catalyst.    USE - For preparing a catalyst for use in steam reforming of low molecular weight hydrocarbon and/or carbon dioxide reforming of low molecular weight hydrocarbon (claimed); for the production of hydrogen or low H2/CO ratio syngas; and in reforming processes driven by solar energy or in on-board reformers for fuel cells in automobiles or in a membrane reformer/reactor.    ADVANTAGE - The method provides improved commercial catalyst for the reforming processes that avoids severe carbon formation on catalyst surface leading to catalyst deactivation. The catalyst formed is inexpensive; allows steam reforming of methane (SRM) at low S/C ratios; provides pure carbon dioxide reforming of methane (CDRM) for use in highly efficient and cost-effective production of syngas and hydrogen as well as storing of solar energy. The catalyst provides a reduced carbon emission fuel source. The method provides Ni-based catalyst with excellent activity and stability for three reforming modes at low reaction temperatures as well as high space velocity. The combination of Ni, Mg, Al and lanthanide metals, such as Y or Gd, prepared by the co-precipitation method enables multiple metal oxide-based Ni catalysts to exhibit very high catalyst activity and stability for SRM at low S/C ratios, mixed SRM and CDRM as well as pure CDRM in terms of three reforming modes. The presence of Mg increases the capability of adsorbing CO2, which curbs carbon formation, stabilizing Ni to prevent it from sintering and inhibits incorporation of nickel to Al2O3 which are inactive for reforming reactions. The presence of Al helps to maintain large BET surface area, high thermal stability and mechanical strength of the catalysts. The addition of small amount of transition metal as promoter disperses Ni, participate in reforming reaction, and suppress carbon formation on the catalyst surface. The co-precipitation method allows Ni to be dispersed throughout the catalyst structure so that high concentrations of Ni can be loaded on the catalysts with a minimum risk of Ni agglomerating to form large particles. This overcomes the limits of the conventional impregnation method in which Ni is deposited on the surface of catalyst and high localized Ni loadings tend to aggregate to form large metal particles, which favor carbon formation and Ni sintering at high temperatures. The co-precipitation method benefits the interaction between Ni and catalyst support to disperse and stabilize Ni to prevent it from aggregation and sintering.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a catalyst produced by the method (P');    (2) new catalyst (C1) for use in steam reforming of low molecular weight hydrocarbon and/or carbon dioxide reforming of low molecular weight hydrocarbon, of formula NiaMgbAlcMdOx (I), where the molar ratio of the active component (a) to the support component (b+c) is 1:2 to 1:6 and the ratio of the active component (a) to the promoter component (d) is 20:1 to 2:1;    (3) a process (P1) for the steam reforming of low molecular weight hydrocarbon involving the step of exposing a stream of low molecular weight hydrocarbon and steam to the catalyst (C1);    (4) a process (P2) for the carbon dioxide reforming of low molecular weight hydrocarbon involving the step of exposing a stream of carbon dioxide and low molecular weight hydrocarbon to the catalyst (C1); and    (5) a process (P3) for the carbon dioxide and steam reforming of low molecular weight hydrocarbon involving the step of exposing a stream of carbon dioxide, steam and low molecular weight hydrocarbon to the catalyst (C1).    M=at least one of the lanthanide metals;    a, b, c, d and x=numerals corresponding to the molar proportion of the catalyst components.