Beatriz Pasqualino
Reporter - Agência Brasil

São Paulo – The final project for the gas pipeline (gasoduto) that is to link Argentina and Brazil to Venezuela's reserves of natural gas should be ready before June, says the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez. He made the declaration following meetings with presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of Brazil, and Nestor Kirchner, of Argentina, yesterday in São Paulo.

"The gas pipeline project is in an advanced stage," said Venezuela's ambassador in Brazil, Julio Garcya Montoya, adding that at the São Paulo meetings there was "total harmony" on the issue.

Chavez declared that the pipeline's principal objective is to boost development. "It is very early to talk about prices, but it certainly will be cheap," he said.

If construction on the gas pipeline begins in 2009, it should be concluded in 2017. Venezuela has South America's largest known reserves of petroleum.

Translation: Allen Bennett