AbstractThe hydroxycarbonate of nickel and aluminium (Ni/ Al = 3) with a hydrotalcite‐like structure is an outstanding precursor of the active component of supported nickel catalysts. Good mechanical strength and suitable nickel content of these catalysts, which are necessary for practical applications, can be achieved by mechanical mixing of this compound with an additional support. The catalyst prepared from a mixture of 56.5 wt‐% of nickel‐aluminium hydroxycarbonate and 43.5 wt‐% of γ‐alumina was proven to have a stable catalytic activity in the methanation reaction at 2 MPa