EXHIBIT 99

MDU RESOURCES RESPONDS TO COURT ORDERS; REAFFIRMS EPS GUIDANCE


BISMARCK, N.D. - June 9, 2005 - MDU Resources Group, Inc., (NYSE:MDU) today
responded to recent Federal District Court decisions that impact the company's
coalbed natural gas production operations in Montana. Despite the potential
negative implications to ongoing coalbed natural gas production volumes in
Montana, the company is reaffirming its prior guidance that earnings per common
share for 2005, diluted, remain within the previously projected range of $1.80
to $2.00.

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Warren L. Robinson
reiterated that the overall business outlook for the company remains strong for
the year. Robinson remarked the company does not expect any material change to
the consolidated earnings outlook for the year based on the diversified nature
of the corporation.

Fidelity Exploration & Production Company, a subsidiary of MDU Resources,
received court orders to cease operations in its Badger Hills Project located in
southeastern Montana. Following the issuance of the District Court decision, the
company now expects its total natural gas and oil production for 2005 to be
slightly lower than 2004 production. This represents a reduction from the
previous estimate of volumes that would be comparable to or slightly higher than
the previous year (based on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal's May 31
injunction, pending appeal, covering further coalbed natural gas development in
the Montana region).

On June 6, 2005, a Federal District Court in Billings, Mont., ordered a halt to
coalbed natural gas operations in Fidelity's Badger Hills project. The District
Court's order said the Bureau of Land Management's Environmental Analysis was
"tiered" to the Final Environmental Impact Statement which, in a previous court
decision in February 2005, was ruled inadequate and remanded back for
supplemental study.

"We will fully comply with the orders of the Montana District Court and the
Ninth Circuit," said John K. Castleberry, chief executive officer of Fidelity
Exploration & Production Company. "We are formulating a plan that will ensure
quick and safe compliance. Although we are committed to compliance with the law
in all respects, we intend to work within the system and take all necessary
actions to contest the Ninth Circuit's injunction and the most recent orders of
the Montana Federal District Court."

The information in this release includes certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The
forward-looking statements contained in this release, including those with
respect to the potential effect of the court action upon expected production
levels, as well as 2005 earnings per share guidance and statements by the
executive vice president and chief financial officer of MDU Resources and the
chief executive officer of Fidelity Exploration & Production Company, are
expressed in good faith and are believed by the company to have a reasonable
basis. Nonetheless, actual results may differ materially from the projected





results expressed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements include: fluctuations in natural gas and crude oil
prices; fluctuations in commodity price basis differentials; drilling successes
in natural gas and oil operations; the ability to contract for or to secure
necessary drilling rig contracts and to retain employees to drill for and
develop reserves; market demand for, and/or available supplies of, energy
products and services; and the effects on operations of legal proceedings and
extensive environmental laws and regulations. For a discussion of other
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in the forward-looking statements, refer to the Introduction and
Part I, Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations - Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements that May Affect
Future Results and - Prospective Information, in the company's most recent Form
10-Q.

MDU Resources Group, Inc., a member of the S&P MidCap 400 index, provides
value-added natural resource products and related services that are essential to
energy and transportation infrastructure. MDU Resources includes natural gas and
oil production, construction materials and mining, domestic and international
independent power production, electric and natural gas utilities, natural gas
pipelines and energy services, and utility 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.


Contacts:

For analyst inquiries, contact:
Warren Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(701) 222-7991

For media inquiries, contact:

Tim Rasmussen, Public Relations Manager
(701) 222-7770