Ceramic samples of composition Ca0.9La0.1MnO3-delta having various oxygen contents were prepared by a quenching method under nitrogen atmosphere. As the 3-delta value decreased from 2.97 to 2.79, the sample conductivity decreased from 10(2) to 10(-1)S cm(-1). The porous ceramic samples showed good properties as cathode materials in alkaline solution without using conductive material such as graphite, but the discharge capacity decreased with decreasing sample conductivity. The discharge termination is explained by a simple model considering dissipation of the conductive path (high conductivity core) present in the porous sintered ceramic.