Directorate Change

    Bowater Inc.

Bowater Elects Ruth R. Harkin Director

The Board of Directors of Bowater Incorporated (NYSE: BOW) has elected Ruth R.
Harkin to the company's Board. Ms. Harkin recently retired from United
Technologies Corporation where she served as Senior Vice President,
International Affairs and Government Relations since 1997. Previously she was
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation.

Bowater Incorporated, headquartered in Greenville, SC, is a leading producer of
newsprint and coated mechanical papers. In addition, the company makes uncoated
mechanical papers, bleached kraft pulp and lumber products. The company has 12
pulp and paper mills in the United States, Canada and South Korea and 12 North
American sawmills that produce softwood lumber. Bowater also operates two
facilities that convert a mechanical base sheet to coated products. Bowater's
operations are supported by approximately 1.4 million acres of timberlands owned
or leased in the United States and Canada and 30 million acres of timber cutting
rights in Canada. Bowater is one of the world's largest consumers of recycled
newspapers and magazines. Bowater common stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange, the Pacific Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. A special class of
stock exchangeable into Bowater common stock is listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (TSX: BWX).


    CONTACT: Bowater Incorporated
             Media Contact:
             Gordon R. Manuel, 864-282-9448
             Analyst Contact:
             Duane A. Owens, 864-282-9488