Palm kernel shell (PKS) is one of the biomass generated from oil palm plantations. It has potential as a feedstock for sustainable production of hydrogen via steam gasification. 5 Ni/BEA and 5 Fe/BEA were prepared using incipient wetness impregnation method and calcined at temperatures between 500-700 °C. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized using BET, XRD and TPR. The catalytic activity was tested at 700 °C in a semi-batch reactor system connected to an online gas chromatography using PKS to catalyst ratio of 3:1 and steam to biomass ratio of 4:1. Results show that the presence of a catalyst enhances the production of H2 and 5 Fe/BEA (600) was found to be the best catalyst for steam gasification of PKS. The high catalytic activity is attributed to its ural properties and reducibility of the active metals. © 2013 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.