The effects of temperature, pressure, steam flow rate and CO 2/H 2O ratio of gasifying agent on the pressurized gasification of Linnancang coal char were investigated. A correlation of kinetic data was developed for coal chars from coals of different ranks at 30 kg cm −2 and 950 °C. The catalytic effects of Ca, Na and Fe catalysts on the gasification activity, activation energy and methane recovery were studied.