An investigation has been made of the thermocatalytic processing of residual oil on oxide nickel- and copper-cement catalysts in the 480-650 degrees C temperature range. The optimum process conditions have been found. The activity of a nickel oxide-cement catalyst has been studied The maximum yield of light fractions (gasoline and diesel) amounts to 35.1% at a temperature of 500 degrees C with a mass feed rate of the feedstock v of 2.0 hr(-1). It has been shown that the activity of a nickel oxide-cement catalyst is higher than that of a copper-cement-containing catalyst. The laws governing the volumetric and surface properties of nickel- and copper-cement catalysts during the thermocatalytic processing of residual oil have been established. Stage I of the process (cracking of the feestock) leads to the reduction of nickel and copper oxides respectively to metallic Ni and Cu. Stage II (gasification owing to the oxidation of metallic Ni and Cu) forms solid solutions NiO . Al2O3 and CuO . Al2O3.