Venezuela's plan to build a natural gas pipeline across Brazil to Argentina is in good progress, Oil and Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said in a statement on Friday.

"We are moving forward and there is a lot of political will to make this project, which is of great regional importance," Ramirez said.

He also said the pipeline has a length of more than 8,000 km.

The project is estimated to cost 17 billion to 20 billion U.S. dollars, and take five to seven years to complete, Ramirez said.

"In early March, we will hold a ministerial meeting to show the heads of state the details of our negotiations," Ramirez said.

In late 2005, government representatives of Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina signed a deal to study the possibility of building this gas pipeline.

Source: Xinhua