UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                      WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549




                             FORM 8-K



                          CURRENT REPORT



        PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
                       EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 18, 2005


                     MDU Resources Group, Inc.
      (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



        Delaware                 1-3480            41-0423660
(State or other jurisdiction  (Commission       (I.R.S. Employer
    of incorporation)          File Number)    Identification No.)





                        Schuchart Building
                      918 East Divide Avenue
                           P.O. Box 5650
                 Bismarck, North Dakota 58506-5650
             (Address of principal executive offices)
                            (Zip Code)

 Registrant's telephone number, including area code (701) 222-7900


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant
under any of the following provisions:

   - Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the
     Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   - Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
     Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   - Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b)
     under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   - Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)
     under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Item 8.01.  Other Events.

     On January 18, 2005, MDU Resources Group, Inc. (the "Company")
issued a press release confirming that MPX Termoceara Ltda, in
which MDU Resources has a 49 percent interest, is continuing
discussions with Petrobras, regarding a possible renegotiation or
buyout of Petrobras' power purchase agreement with MPX.  The press
release which is incorporated by reference herein, is attached as
Exhibit 99.


Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c)  Exhibits

          99   Press Release issued January 18, 2005.



                             SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                               MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.

Date  January 18, 2005         BY /s/ Warren L. Robinson
                                  Warren L. Robinson
                                  Executive Vice President and
                                    Chief Financial Officer



                           EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number                     Description of Exhibit

     99                            Press release issued January 18, 2005,
                                   confirming that MPX Termoceara Ltda,
                                   in which MDU Resources has a 49 percent
                                   interest, is continuing discussions
                                   with Petrobras, regarding a possible
                                   renegotiation or buyout of Petrobras'
                                   power purchase agreement with MPX.