Bagasse residue is a potential feedstock for steam gasification, but knowledge of this technology is still small and fragmented. Heating rate is of the most important factors influencing the gasification process. However, this parameter has not yet been fully investigated. In this study, the characteristics of bagasse and its chars were identified, and the effect of heating rate on steam gasification kinetics was studied. Bagasse contained little ash content, comparable to woody biomass, which is beneficial for thermochemical conversion processes. The bagasse char had a high heating value, comparable to coal. Effect of a small change in heating rate from 5 to 15 °Cmin-1 was not observed, while a significant increase from 15 to 1800 °Cmin-1 had a considerable effect on steam gasification kinetics. A char produced at a high heating rate increased gasification kinetics by 1.35 times compared to a char produced at a low heating rate. Results and data produced could be useful for the conception of new gasifiers using bagasse, such as staged-gasifiers in which the char production zone is separated from the gasification zone.