FILE PHOTO: A general view of the El Sharara oilfield, Libya December 3, 2014. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny/File Photo TRIPOLI (Reuters) – An armed group forced Libya’s giant Sharara oilfield to close late on Sunday, shutting off production of more than 230,000 barrels per day (bpd), the head of the state oil company said. Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) declared force majeure on deliveries of Sharara crude, citing “unrest”, according to a letter seen by Reuters. NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla promised that production would restart by Monday evening. Sanalla told reporters that the armed group, Brigade 30, were demanding the release of group members who had been detained. In comments to Libya’s Channel TV station, he said they were guards demanding salary payments. It was unclear if the guards were employed in an official capacity at the field. A statement purporting to be from Brigade 30 said it had closed the […]