The hydrogasification behavior of Loy Yang brown coal with ion-exchanged nickel species was studied. The C1 gas evolution profile was affected by nickel species loaded. The peals of CH4 evolution appeared at 860-1010 K, depending on the amount of exchanged nickel species, became larger with increasing nickel loading. The total amounts of CO evolved were not enhanced by the presence of nickel, however, the maximum temperature shifted to 640-700 K, depending on the amount of exchanged nickel species, comparable to a broader peak at 810 K for an acid washed coal. The CO2 evolution peak at 650 K became slightly greater with nickel loadings, but the peak top temperature did not change. The agglomeration temperatures of the 1.1 wt %-, 6.6 wt %-, and 12.7 wt %-nickel-loaded samples were 700, 620, and 600 K, respectively. Large nickel metal particles catalyzed the CH4 formation from the Loy Yang coal under hydrogen atmosphere.