Exhibit 99

               MDU Resources revises earnings forecast

Bismarck, North Dakota - March 14, 2001 - MDU Resources Group, Inc.
(NYSE:MDU) announced that the continuing strength of natural gas and
oil prices is expected to increase the earnings potential of the
natural gas and oil production segment for 2001 thereby causing the
company to reassess its annual and quarterly earnings projections.

Recently the company entered into additional hedging arrangements for
a portion of its 2001 production.  With the addition of the swap
agreements, the company continues to have approximately one-fourth of
its 2001 estimated annual natural gas production under fixed price
forward sales and swap agreements.  Natural gas swap prices range
from $4.57 to $5.39 per Mcf based on NYMEX and $4.04 to $4.44 per Mcf
for Rocky Mountain gas sales.  In addition, the company now has
approximately 37 percent of 2001 estimated annual oil production
hedged at NYMEX prices ranging from $27.51 to $29.22 per barrel.

The company also remains optimistic about reaching the goals that
were previously discussed in the Investment Highlights section of the
January 25, 2001, news release.  The utility services segment is
expected to exceed $300 million in revenues in 2001.  The pipeline
and energy services segment continues business development activities
seeking assets and resources that add value to existing operations
through further vertical integration of its natural gas delivery and
storage systems.  The company's construction materials and mining
segment has accumulated a backlog of projects valued at approximately
$126 million as of mid-February 2001.

Largely, as a result of the continuing strength in natural gas and
oil commodity prices, the company projects earnings per share,
diluted, from operations for 2001 in the $2.10 to $2.25 range, up
from a range of $1.95 to $2.05 projected earlier this year.  In
addition, the company also expects a change in its quarterly earnings
profile.  The company expects the percentage of 2001 earnings per
share from operations by quarter to be in the following approximate
ranges:

- -    First Quarter - 20 to 25 percent
- -    Second Quarter - 20 to 25 percent
- -    Third Quarter - 30 to 35 percent
- -    Fourth Quarter - 20 to 25 percent

While there may be some variations from these percentages resulting
from factors such as weather conditions, economic factors and
commodity prices, the company believes these percentages should
provide reasonable general guidance at this time.

The information in this release includes certain forward-looking
statements including earnings per share estimates and revenue
estimates for the utility services segment within the meaning of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although the
company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable
assumptions, actual results may differ materially. Important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements include the timing and extent of
changes in commodity prices; the timing and extent of success in
discovering, developing and producing or acquiring oil and natural
gas reserves; the ability to contract for or to secure necessary
drilling rig contracts and employees to drill for and develop
reserves; the effects of competition; the availability of economic
expansion or development opportunities; federal and state regulatory
actions and developments; weather; and the ability to effectively
integrate operations of acquired companies. For discussion of other
important factors, refer to the company's 2000 Annual Report on Form
10-K at Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis - Safe Harbor
for Forward-looking Statements.

MDU Resources Group, Inc. provides energy, value-added natural
resource products and related services that are essential to our
country's energy, transportation and communication infrastructure.
MDU Resources includes electric and natural gas utilities, a natural
gas pipeline, utility services, natural gas and oil production,
construction materials and mining, and energy services.  For more
information about MDU Resources, see the company's web site at
www.mdu.com or contact the investor relations department at
investor@mduresources.com.

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For more information, contact:

Warren L. Robinson
Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(701) 222-7991

or

Cathi Christopherson
Vice President, Corporate Communications
(701) 222-7959