CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Form 10-K of our report dated January 22, 1998 included in the MDU Resources Group, Inc. Annual Report to Stockholders for 1997. We also consent to the incorporation of our report incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K into the Company's previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-3, No. 33-46605 and No. 333-06127, and on Form S-8, No. 33-54486, No. 33-53896, No. 333-06103, No. 333-06105, No. 333-27879 and No. 333-27877. /s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP Minneapolis, Minnesota March 6, 1998 CONSENT OF ENGINEER We hereby consent to the reference to our reports dated January 12, 1998, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3, No. 33-46605 and No. 333-06127 and on Form S-8, No. 33-54486, No. 33-53896, No. 333-06103, No. 333-06105, No. 333-27879 and No. 333-27877 of MDU Resources Group, Inc. and in the related Prospectuses of the reference to such reports appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. /s/ RALPH E. DAVIS ASSOCIATES, INC. RALPH E. DAVIS ASSOCIATES, INC. Houston, Texas March 6, 1998 CONSENT OF ENGINEER We hereby consent to the reference to our report dated May 9, 1994, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3, No. 33-46605 and No. 333-06127, and on Form S-8, No. 33-54486, No. 33-53896, No. 333-06103, No. 333-06105, No. 333-27879 and No. 333-27877 of MDU Resources Group, Inc. and in the related Prospectuses of the reference to such report appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. /s/ WEIR INTERNATIONAL MINING CONSULTANTS WEIR INTERNATIONAL MINING CONSULTANTS Des Plaines, Illinois March 6, 1998