Five generating sets from Cummins Power Generation have recently been installed at the City Center Shopping Plaza in Doha, one of the world's largest shopping centres. The sets will provide 3.65MKVA standby power in the event of a mains failure.

The sets installed at the plaza, the Middle East's biggest and sixth largest in the world, are two 1,000kVA units each powered by a Cummins QST30G4 12-cylkinder engine, two 625kVAsets equipped with Cummins VTA28G5 12-cylinder engines and one 400kVA set with a Cummins KTA19G3 six-cylinder engine.

All the generating sets operate at 50hz, 415v which is standard in Qatar and all are equipped with the Cummins Power Command System. Each is individually housed within the centre's car parking ground floor level and equipped with critical silencers on their exhausts. Each is also connected to MV panels and will start-up whenever their specific MV panel loses its utility power supply.

The two 1000kVA units have loads of 800kVA and will power in the event of a mains failure all electrical functions for the ground, first and second levels. Meanwhile, the two 625kVA units and the one 400kVA unit have loads of 499kVA and 335kVA respectively and safeguard the third and fourth levels of the plaza.

The five-level, 500m long-mall, located in Doha's West Bay and close to the city's Diplomatic Zone, has over 350 retail outlets including Qatar's first hypermarket. There are also two ice-skating rinks, a water park for children, a 10-screen multiplex cinema, a 3000 sq m fine dining restaurant, 10 cafes and restaurants, food courts to seat 650 people, a banqueting hall, an exhibition hall and parking for over 2000 vehicles. It is also easily accessible from all parts of the city and country.

The project represents the largest single order in Qatar for Cummins Power Generation's local dealer Jaidah Motors and Trading Company.

The City Center has parking on both ground floor and first floor levels with the former having 1500 car spaces. Also located on the ground level are Qatar's first ice rink, an 800 sq m mosque, some small retail outlets and a hotel booking outlet.

Qatar's first hypermarket, the Carrefour store is located on level one. Other attractions include a 700 sq m bookstore, three cafes and a bank.

The project's main contractor was locally based Gettco Contracting, a subsidiary of Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani & Sons Holding Company. Delloit and Tush conducted the feasibility study for the project while Davenport Campbell of Australia carried out the architectural design.

Work is about to begin on the second phase of the City Centre project, the stage covering over 1 million sq m of floor space. This phase will include an office tower of 17-storeys, a 30-storey multipurpose tower, an apartment block with 18 floors, a seven-level car park and a 16-floor hotel. The third and final phase will include four residential complexes and two 18-story and 22-storey towers.

A new dedicated power station has been suggested for installation once all the phases are completed.