The M (M = Ni, Co)-loaded BaCl2-promoted Sm2O3 (BCS) catalysts have been investigated for the partial oxidation of ethane to a feedstock gas suitable for ethene hydroformylation. It is found that at a temperature of 700 degreesC and a C2H6/O-2 molar ratio of 2/1, the product mixtures over 5 wt% Ni/BCS and 7 wt% Co/BCS were with C2H4/CO/H-2 and C2H4/COx/H-2 (COx = CO + CO2) molar ratios close to 1/1/1 at a contact time of 1.19 x 10(-4) h g ml(-1) and close to 1/1/2 at a contact time of 2.78 x 10(-4) h g ml(-1). It is suggested that, besides reaction conditions, defect structures, M loading, and M dispersion of the catalysts are governing factors for the generation of the required feedstock gas.