What is meant by "bottleneck" in this sentence?

Question

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In the emerging markets, Latin America and Asia Pacific, the challenges facing the refining sector are a more fundamental need of refining capacityto meet rapid demand growth. Refining capacity is, therefore, increasingly the key *bottleneck* in the oil supply chain.

Answer 1

In this passage, the term "bottleneck" is used to define the limiting factor in the chain, so one part of the chain cannot increase without first increasing the refining capacity. Likewise, if refining capacity is decreased, all other factors in the chain also are decreased. Therefore the term would have to represent the limiting factor.

Answer 2

A bottleneck is a small or narrow space that everything must flow through. For example you can have a bottleneck in traffic at places where many lanes of traffic merge. In your sentence the refining capacity creates a bottleneck - it cannot keep up with the demand. There is enough natural resources to meet the demand, but there is a bottleneck at the refining level - not enough refineries.

Answer 3

Not an expression often used in Britain. "Blowing a fuse" means getting very angry, so possibly 'come off' in that context means 'get things wrong'. The whole phrase possibly asks what areas of work etc make him upset.

Answer 4

The word "bottleneck" is usually used to refer to a slowdown, and seems appropriate usage in your verbage.