<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>424B2
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d378111v6.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
<TEXT>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT                             Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)2
---------------------                       Registration Statement No. 333-49472
(To Prospectus dated November 17, 2000)


                                 189,689 Shares

                            MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.
                                  Common Stock
                           Par Value, $1.00 per share


     PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION. MDU Resources Group, Inc. is offering these shares,
together with the attached preference share purchase rights, directly to Ensign
Peak Advisors, Inc. at an average purchase price of $26.359 per share. The total
purchase price for all of these shares is $5,000,000. Ensign Peak Advisors, Inc.
must purchase all of the shares if it purchases any of them.

     MDU Resources Group, Inc. will receive $5,000,000 total proceeds from the
sale of these shares minus its expenses relating to the sale which are estimated
to be $4,250. These shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the
Pacific Exchange under the symbol MDU.

     The offering price of these shares was established with reference to prices
of MDU Resources Group, Inc. common stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the
period beginning December 20, 2001, and ending December 27, 2001, net of a
discount of 2.5%. MDU Resources Group, Inc. will deliver these shares to Ensign
Peak Advisors, Inc. on or about the date of this Prospectus Supplement.

     MDU Resources Group, Inc. has agreed to indemnify Ensign Peak Advisors,
Inc. against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act
of 1933.

     If Ensign Peak Advisors, Inc. acquires these shares and resells them
shortly before or after acquiring them, it may be considered to be an
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933. MDU Resources
Group, Inc. has no arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to
a distribution of these shares. Any resale of these shares by Ensign Peak
Advisors, Inc. would be solely at its election and would not be made on behalf
of or at the request of MDU Resources Group, Inc. MDU Resources Group, Inc. does
not have any specific knowledge of the intentions, if any, of Ensign Peak
Advisors, Inc. to resell and distribute these shares.

     USE OF PROCEEDS. The net proceeds to MDU Resources Group, Inc. from the
sale of these shares will be added to the general funds of MDU Resources Group,
Inc. and may be used for the refunding of outstanding debt obligations, for
corporate development purposes (including the acquisition of businesses and/or
business assets), and for other general corporate purposes.

     GENERAL. The mailing address and telephone number of the principal
executive offices of MDU Resources Group, Inc. are: Schuchart Building, 918 East
Divide Avenue, P.O. Box 5650, Bismarck, North Dakota 58506-5650, (701) 222-7900.

     Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these shares or determined if this
Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus are truthful or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.



          The date of this Prospectus Supplement is December 31, 2001.


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
