Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak says Gazprom’s South Stream gas pipeline project is dead. (UPI/Shutterstock/Igor Golovniov) “In my view, the decision is final,” Minister Alexander Novak said from Moscow. With a delegation from natural gas company Gazprom in tow, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an end to a project that would cross the Black Sea to the European market during a visit to Ankara. Instead, Gazprom said it was pursuing an alternate option for the Turkish market. “Today we’re working on the construction of the pipeline by another route,” the minister said. Early this week, German steelmaker Salzgitter AG, a pipeline contractor, said it would seek compensation through insurers following Putin’s announcement. Saipem, the contracting subsidiary of Italian energy company Eni, said it’s received no word on the status of South Stream . “Operational activities therefore continue to progress,” the company said. South Stream was Gazprom’s answer to energy […]