'Modern Carnegie' gifts $1m to college

Canadian mining entrepreneur Robert M Buchan is giving the money to help set up an energy research and development centre on the Rosyth engineering campus of Fife's Carnegie College.

Mr Buchan was born in Aberdeen and grew up in Rosyth. His donation of $1 million Canadian dollars (650,000) is believed to be the largest single private individual donation to a Scottish college since the time of Andrew Carnegie, the Scots-American steel magnate and the Fife institution's founding benefactor.

Mr Buchan has named the new facility the Whitlock Energy Collaboration Centre in honour of Colin and the late Rene Whitlock of Limekilns. Mr Whitlock was at the forefront of the electronics revolution in the 1960s and was managing director of Philips Dunfermline between 1964 and 1981, during which time he was committed to vocational training for young people. He was a board member at the college for more than 15 years.

Mr Buchan said: "Colin Whitlock was my mentor and motivator and he, along with his wife Rene, had a major influence on my life. I was keen to put something back into the area and offered Colin a donation of $1 million to a cause of his choosing.

"Colin's commitment to Lauder, now Carnegie College, has been long-term. I am honoured and delighted that this centre carries the Whitlock name and look forward to watching it grow in the coming years."

Mr Whitlock said he was deeply honoured and humbled by the recognition.

He said: "I cannot tell you the joy that this announcement gives me. When Bob first offered this donation, I was committed to ensuring that it was used to provide a long-lasting legacy for the people and businesses of Dunfermline."

College principal Professor Bill McIntosh added: "Everyone connected with Carnegie College is overwhelmed by this hugely generous donation.

"It is particularly welcome as, given current funding models and the tightening of the public purse, this college needs to be ever more innovative in raising funds to meet our future aspirations and that of the local economy."

Jim Mather, the energy minister, said: "We want to be a world leader in low-carbon industries and Carnegie College – and Fife – are at the forefront of green-energy skills development, bringing jobs and long-term sustainable growth for Scotland."

The college has recently formed a partnership with Scottish & Southern Energy, Siemens and the Sector Skills Council for Energy and Utility, to develop the first bespoke range of modern apprenticeship technician programmes for on and offshore wind. The first UK wind-energy technicians course will start at the college in September

The Rosyth campus is already undergoing a 400,000 refurbishment and expansion.

PROFILE

ROBERT M Buchan obtained an undergraduate degree in mining from Heriot-Watt University and a Master of Science degree in mining engineering from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

In 1993, he founded Kinross Gold, a small gold mining company which he grew into the third-largest primary gold producer in North America.

After retiring as chief executive in 2005, he was one of the founders of Katanga Copper, the developer of one of the world's largest copper deposits.

He was also instrumental in the formation of Allied Nevada, targeting one of North America's largest gold deposits.

Mr Buchan retired from Katanga in 2007, and remains executive chairman of Allied Nevada.

He is a director of the Buchan Family Foundation, which is involved in a number of philanthropic causes and campaigns.

Last year he gave $10 million to his alma mater, Queen's University, the largest single donation to mining education in Canadian history.