Iraq plans to use drones to monitor and protect its export and production pipelines in the first quarter of 2018, its Oil Ministry said on Monday. Security companies will be considered that can supply Iraq with drones and sophisticated camera systems to guard its pipelines, Reuters quoted spokesman Asim Jihad as saying. Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi will also visit Algeria in mid-January, where state-run Sonatrach is interested in investing in Iraq’s energy sector, according the spokesman.