A new Cu-modified Ni catalyst was compared with a corn. Ni catalyst in hydrogenation of PhH at 170 degrees C in a pilot-plant tubular reactor (diam. 27 mm, length 1.6 m) in respect of its activity and selectivity. The addn. of Cu resulted in an increase in catalytic activity by 70% and selectivity of cyclohexane formation. The content of MeH was decreased by 87%, Me cyclopentane by 25% and Me cyclohexane by 88% in the reaction product.