TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The promoter component comprises at least two lanthanide metals. The lanthanide metals are selected from Ce, Y, and Gd (preferably Y and/or Gd). Preferred Catalyst: The catalyst is of formula (I). In the catalyst, the molar proportion of the active component (a) is 15 to 40, (b) is 40 to 80, (c) is 10 to 40, (d) is 1 to 8, and (a)+(b)+(c)+(d) is 100. In the catalyst (C1), the molar ratio of nickel to magnesium is 1:1.5 to 1:6; the molar ratio of magnesium to aluminum is 1.5:1 to 3:1; and the molar % of lanthanide metal relative to the sum of lanthanide metal, nickel, magnesium and aluminum is 1.9 to 7.4%. The catalyst (C1) has the molar formula selected from NiMg3AlY0.1Ox', NiMg3AlY0.2Ox', NiMg3AlY0.3Ox', NiMg3AlY0.4Ox', NiMg3AlGd0.1Ox', NiMg3AlGd0.2Ox', NiMg3AlGd0.3Ox', NiMg3AlGd0.4Ox', NiMg3AlCe0.1Ox', NiMg3AlCe0.2Ox', NiMg3AlCe0.3Ox' and NiMg3AlCe0.4Ox'.x'=a numeral corresponding to the oxide content of the catalyst.Preferred Method: The co-precipitate is formed at pH of 10-11. The reaction temperature is 550 degrees C to 950 degrees C (preferably 650 degrees C to 850 degrees C).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: In method (P1), the molar ratio of steam to low molecular weight hydrocarbon is less than 2.5. EXAMPLE - Preparation of catalyst sample LSR-24 having catalyst compositions (at%) NiMg3AlY0.2Ox' was prepared as follows: 7.3783 g of Al(NO3)2.9H2O, 19.2308 g of Mg(NO3)2.6H2O, 7.2703 g of Ni(NO3)2.6H2O and 1.9151 g of Y(NO3)3.6H2O were dissolved in 250 ml of distilled and deionized water and then the mixed solution was stirred for 20 minutes at ambient temperature to give Solution 1. Na2CO3 (7.9493 g) was dissolved in 250 ml of distilled and deionized water. The solution was then stirred for 20 minutes at 65 degrees C to give Solution 2. Solution 1 was then added to the Solution 2 dropwise at 60-70 degrees C under vigorous stirring, maintaining the pH of the mixed solution at 10.3 to 10.7 by adding 2M NaOH aqueous solution. After completion of this step, the resulting solution was stirred for 1 hour at 60 to 70 degrees C and then placed into an oven at 60 degrees C for 18 to 24 hours. The product was filtered and washed by hot distilled and deionized water (60 to 70 degrees C) until hydroxide ion free. The resulting precipitate was dried in a drying oven at 60 degrees C for 24 hours and then calcined at 500 degrees C for 16 hours in air to form the catalyst. The catalyst showed BET surface area of 152 plus minus 1.0 m2/g; pore diameter of 7.5 plus minus 0.3 nm; and pore average volume of 0.28 plus minus 0.05 (cm3/g).