Resumen del autor, extraído del trabajo. The 1990’s introduced a decade of unparalleled change and growth in Latin America. Throughout the region, democratic and free market reforms brought massive change to governments, economies and industries, unleashing economic forces which stimulated demand for resources, energy and capital. Nowhere have these effects been greater than in the Southern Cone (the lower half of South America) where the phenomenon of the natural gas industry promises to be a continuing engine of growth during the next decade. This paper compares the outlook of the Southern Cone gas industry through the 1990’s with the situation today and trends for the next decade. In addition to demonstrating growth in regional gas production, reserves and energy demand, the paper discusses the evident trend towards regional energy integration. It discusses expansion of regional infrastructure, alignment of trade and energy policies, downstream integration, cross border ventures and alliances, and movement toward a regional energy price. This energy growth has been fuelled by significant capital influx, in turn stimulating substantial economic development. The regional forces driving gas development in the Southern Cone continue to gain momentum. Although many technical, regulatory and economic hurdles must be overcome, it is expected that a swelling gas demand during the next decade will bring massive investment and development to the region.