Sonangol is Angola's state-owned oil and gas company, headquartered in Luanda. Since the National Oil, Gas and Biofuel Agency (ANPG) took over regulatory functions in 2019, Sonangol operates as a commercial company with upstream, midstream and downstream activities, including the 65,000 barrel-per-day Luanda refinery. This page explains what to look for in an ATEX and IECEx smartphone for Sonangol, and where the IS-04Z1 stands against that list today.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for Sonangol: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. A buyer's engineering review is separate from the certificate. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Marking | II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4 on the rating plate | Design target; not yet marked |
| EU-type examination certificate | Notified body number and certificate ID | In progress with TÜV; not issued |
| IECEx certificate of conformity | Number listed on the IECEx online register | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | Sonangol: Offshore production platforms, Refinery process units, Fuel storage and distribution depots | Classified by the site operator |
An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Angola. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
The main sites and the hazardous-area types a portable device is likely to meet at this organisation.
Sonangol runs a Supplier Portal (Portal de Fornecedores) for registration, pre-qualification and qualification; pre-registration is completed through the suppliers section of its website and is free. The Ex certificate and an organisation's own vendor or engineering approval are two separate timelines; SAMS is working towards both and holds neither today.
Angola produces roughly 1.1 million barrels a day, mostly from offshore deep-water and ultra-deep-water fields using floating production storage and offloading vessels, while older shallow-water platforms rely on ageing infrastructure.
A 200,000 barrel-a-day refinery at Lobito, with Sonangol planned to hold 70%, has been proposed but much delayed, so check current project status before assuming new refinery work.
Sonangol was instituted as a state-owned company by Directive 52/76 in 1976 to manage Angola's petroleum industry, after earlier fuel and lubricant assets had been nationalised and merged into it.
The main corporate headquarters is the Sonangol Building on Rua Rainha Ginga in the Ingombota district of Luanda, built in 2005, where about 2,000 people are employed.
ATEX is the European legal framework for equipment used in explosive atmospheres (Directive 2014/34/EU). IECEx is the international certification scheme built on the IEC 60079 standards. Buyers outside Europe often ask for both: an IECEx certificate is the technical evidence most national regimes build on, while ATEX is the legal route into the European market.
For the IS-04Z1 both routes are in progress with TÜV in Germany and neither certificate has been issued. The marking target is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4: equipment Group II (surface industry), Category 2 (Zone 1 gas), protection concept ib (intrinsic safety), gas group IIC and temperature class T4.
In Sonangol. A Sonangol reviewer assessing a handset for the Luanda refinery or offshore platforms would expect a certificate of conformity, a schedule of conditions and a clear marking. Dual ATEX and IECEx evidence helps because international contractors and EPCs working offshore Angola often bring their own equipment standards. For the IS-04Z1 certification is in progress and nothing has been issued.
A short checklist for anyone writing or reviewing the specification, with the IS-04Z1 status against each point.
Not yet. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch and its certification is still in progress ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. No unit goes into a classified area before the certificate covering it exists. The datasheet, the certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
SAMS has not published a price. Any figure you are offered for an uncertified Ex phone should be treated with caution; written indicative pricing is available for a defined quantity and site.
Not yet. Both routes are in progress with TÜV in Germany and no certificate has been issued. Any listing that says otherwise is wrong.
Sonangol runs a Supplier Portal (Portal de Fornecedores) for registration, pre-qualification and qualification; pre-registration is completed through the suppliers section of its website and is free.
Not exactly. Explosion proof is a broad everyday term; intrinsic safety is one protection concept, which limits energy so ignition cannot occur. Flameproof (Ex d) is a different concept that contains an explosion. The IS-04Z1 is intrinsically safe by design.
Usually not directly. Sonangol acts as concessionaire and partner, while international oil companies commonly operate the offshore blocks. Equipment standards and approved-vendor processes therefore depend on the operator of the specific field. Identify the operator and ask for its contractor and equipment requirements.
Portuguese is the official language, so manuals, labels and training for hazardous-area devices are often expected in Portuguese, while international operators commonly work in English. Confirm with the operator and Sonangol which language is required for approval and for site induction.
Not at present. Sonangol uses a Supplier Portal for registration and qualification, and SAMS expects supply after certification to come through authorised distributors. SAMS can currently share a datasheet and schedule. Check the portal's current requirements before assuming any route is open.
Other guides for Sonangol, other places in Angola, and the pages behind them.
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.
