Conversion of biomass into methane

The present invention provides a process for producing methane from a biomass, biomass-containing and/or biomass-derived feedstock, said process comprising the steps of: a) providing in a hydropyrolysis reactor vessel a 5 hydropyrolysis catalyst composition, said composition comprising one or more active metals supported on an oxide-based support, said one or more active metals comprising at least one of cobalt and nickel and said one or more active metals being present in total in an amount 10 in the range of from 2 to 75wt% based on the overall weight of the catalyst composition; b) contacting the feedstock with said hydropyrolysis catalyst composition and molecular hydrogen in said hydropyrolysis reactor vessel at a temperature in the 15 range of from 300 to 600°C and a pressure in the range of from 0.50 to 7.50MPa, to produce a first product stream comprising char, catalyst fines and gases comprising hydrogen and hydrocarbons, of which hydrocarbons at least 70wt% is methane and, optionally, CO and CO2; and 20 c) removing said char and catalyst fines from said first product stream.