Novel Rh-La(Mn,Co)O-3 structured catalysts were developed for the partial oxidation of methane to syngas intended as a preliminary conversion step in combustion systems such as power turbines and utility burners employing a fuel-rich fuel-lean approach to reduce NOx formation. Active components were impregnated on La-gamma-Al2O3 washcoated honeycomb monoliths and the catalysts were characterised by BET, SEM/EDS, H-2-TPR, and in situ FT-IR under reaction conditions. Catalytic partial oxidation of methane was tested under both pseudo-isothermal and pseudo-adiabatic conditions showing that the process can be conducted with high yield and selectivity: improved and stable performances were found especially in the case of Rh-LaMnO3 catalyst, due to the synergism between active sites and to the stabilization of the noble metal. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.