The Bottom of the Barrel Technology Conference (BBTC) Mena kicked off today, February 10, and runs until February 11 in Bahrain. It is the region’s leading technical forum focused on residue upgrading, advanced conversion routes, and cleaner product strategies.

With the industry under pressure to maximise efficiency, flexibility, and value recovery from heavier fractions, the event provides a platform for technology alignment, knowledge exchange, and commercial strategy development.

Regional refiners, licensors, and solution providers are exploring next-generation process integration, feedstock innovation, and pathways to cleaner, high-value outputs — from bitumen and base oils to carbon black and petrochemical intermediates.

The conference focuses on bottom-of-the-barrel and heavy-residue processing, covering residue upgrading technologies such as coking, visbreaking, solvent deasphalting, and hydrocracking.

It addresses feedstock flexibility for opportunity crudes, contaminant management, and advanced hydro processing, including hydrogen and catalyst optimisation.

The agenda also includes unit revamps, integration with petrochemical routes, bitumen and base oil production, energy efficiency, emissions reduction, carbon capture options, and RFCC and coker technologies designed to improve operational flexibility and product yields. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service