ANKARA. April 13. KAZINFORM. Aktau-BTC project, which will carry the Kazakhstan oil to the world markets via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, was signed for the first time. Via the memorial signed in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, between the Kazakh public company GazMunayGaz and СNorthern Caspian’, СTengiz Group’ and project partner foreign oil companies, the connection between BTC and the Kazakh oil began. Via the project, which will begin the construction activities in the end of this year, the oil extracted from the Kashagan and Tengiz reservoirs of Kazakhstan will reach the Sengacal terminal in Baku through the 700 km underwater pipeline to be built in the Caspian Sea in the first step. The Aktau-Baku pipeline that is targeted to be completed in 2011 will cost 3 billion dollars. Kazakhstan will thus send 25 million tons of petroleum to the Western markets in the first step, Kazinform refers to EkoTurk News Agency. Later, the volume of the oil to be carried will increase to 38 million tons. The contacts to transfer the Kazakh oil through Azeri land that began in 2002 between the public oil companies of the two countries will soon be completed and intergovernmental agreements will be signed. Azerbaijan Minister of Energy and Industry Natig Aliyev said that the last meeting of the study group coming together regarding the transfer of Kazakh petrol via BTC is to be held in Astana in the new few days. Energy experts argue that despite the long trial of Russia to prevent Kazakhstan prom joining BTC, a huge step has been taken due to the stable programs of Astana concerning the issue.