A handful of employees at MDUResources Group Inc. may lose their jobs, according to management.

Staff of the corporation's headquarters were updated Thursday about the potential cut of several jobs at MDU Resources Inc. headquarters in Bismarck, after being told during their quarterly meeting that an evaluation of the headquarters' work force showed some duplication in job positions or responsibilities, said Rick Matteson, director of communications and public relations.

Matteson said affected employees may be notified by Sept. 28, and that the company was working on a severance package. He said the number of affected employees probably would be fewer than 10.

"We'll treat them as fairly and as equitably as we can,"he said.

Matteson also said there were several vacant positions that won't be filled.

The mining, energy and construction company has about 14,000 employees nationwide, with 180 in the headquarters, which is based in Bismarck. It recently reported record second quarter profits of $89.3 million. In July, it completed its acquisition of Cascade Natural Gas Corp., valued at $475 million.

MDU Resources Group Inc. is the parent company of Montana-Dakota Utilities and other natural resources, mining and construction companies.

- Crystal R. Reid