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Transcripción del abstract original del autor: The potential for new gas in BSR is large and is mainly linked to the power sector, including the CHP sector. In the next 15 years gas supplies could increase by up to 70 BCM, of which up to 40 BCM is to be consumed in the power sector. The gas and power sector, organized in the associations Baltic Gas and BALTREL, respectively, finalized in November 2001 a joint study on the challenges for such a development. The background for the study was the need to gain a common understanding on how such potential could be realized, not least in the environment of countries joining the EU, the EU accelerating the liberalization of the energy markets, the environmental "legislation" and the sector-specific challenges. The paper presented examines the impact of the policy trends of liberalization, environmental awareness and the need for security of supply on key energy sector issues such as demand and supply of energy, investments in infrastructure and the industry structure. In this process barriers, for instance regulatory barriers, are identified and presented. One of the main findings is that natural gas will, regardless of the policy trends examined, be a preferred fuel for the region and for the power sector. Annual consumption could increase from the current level of about 125 BCM to about 190 BCM in 2015. The attractiveness of natural gas is - as seen by both industries - the relatively short lead-times from investment decision to the final power plant, the limited investment costs and the possibility to "tailor-make" gas-fired power plants. A major challenge for the development is to secure investments in the cross-border infrastructure needed to support the additional gas consumption. In this regard, the governments and authorities play a key role, as they set the framework conditions.