Union Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan has highlighted the need for extensively developing the natural resources of the North East Region. Addressing an interactive session in Guwahati today on small oil fields bid, he said that Assam contributed 10 percent of country's total crude oil and natural gas production. <br/><br/>He said that there are 12 oil fields in Assam that would be auctioned from 15th of July. Overall 67 oil fields in the country will be auctioned with a resource of 86 million Metric Tonnes Oil and Oil equivalent volumes. The minister said that Assam will get royalty from it and the auction will also help in employment generation. Mr.Pradhan said that steps are being taken to raise oil production in the country to reduce import dependency.