Iraq says oil safe as social media cut amid protests

Bloomberg

Iraq is pumping oil at normal levels even as protests spread across the southern region from where OPEC’s second-biggest producer exports most of its crude, according to a government spokesman.
“Production and exports from southern Iraq are stable as per normal levels,” Oil Ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said by phone. Authorities have deployed security forces to protect energy fields and facilities in the region, he said.
Protests broke out last week in the southern province of Basra by residents asking for jobs at some of the country’s giant oil fields operated by international companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp and Lukoil PJSC. Iraqis have protested about unemployment and inadequate public services including power and water shortages ever since
the US-led invasion of 2003. Iraq has been rebuilding its energy industry.