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Transcripción del abstract original del autor: Gas markets of the Southern Cone of Latin America (comprising Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, the Southern, Southeastern and Midwestern states of Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) have experienced very interesting developments during the 1990s, with a deregulation and privatization of gas industries in most countries of the region, a sustained investment dynamic in all segments of the gas chain, a rapid expansion of cross-border infrastructures and a rapid growth of gas demand on a regional scale. Although fundamental drivers are present in the Southern Cone for the development of a regionally integrated gas market (gas reserves are abundant, the key infrastructure is largely in place, and gas provides an attractive option to diversify the region's power generating mix), this process is currently facing heavy challenges, due to prevailing economic and regulatory conditions. This paper presents an overview of the current situation of Southern Cone gas markets and discusses the key conditions required for a further development of an efficient, integrated gas market at a regional scale.