Catalytic burners for fuel cell power plant reformers are alternatives to conventional flame burners. Their application is expected to provide uniform temperatures in the reformer, efficient use of low-calorific gaseous byproducts and reduction of pollutant emissions. For testing in the burners, a series of spherical Pd/CeO2/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared. An optimum concentration of ceria providing the highest thermal stability of catalysts was determined. An effect of catalyst activation in the reaction mixture-1% methane in air was observed. A series of Mn containing oxide catalysts on spherical γ-Al2O3 or (γ+χ)-Al2O3, both pure and doped with La, Ce and Mg oxides were prepared. The catalysts were characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray phase analysis, BET surface area and activity measurements in methane oxidation. A batch of Mn-Mg-La-Al-O catalyst was prepared for further long-term testing in a model reformer with a catalytic burner. A model reformer with a catalytic burner was designed and fabricated for testing in the composition of the bench-scale Fuel Cell Power Plant. Preliminary testing of this catalyst showed that it provided complete methane combustion at the specified operational temperatures over 900 ℃.