Sonangol: who works there
The group created subsidiaries for services it needed, including telecommunications, trucking, shipping, data management, engineering and seismic work, so many site contractors are Sonangol affiliates.
Sonangol · ATEX and IECEx
ATEX and IECEx Smartphone Supplier for Sonangol
Sonangol is Angola's state-owned oil and gas company, headquartered in Luanda. 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. This page sets out how an ATEX and IECEx smartphone supply route to Sonangol will work for the IS-04Z1, and what is and is not available before launch.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Marking targetEx ib IIC T4Intrinsic safety, Zone 1 / 21 design target · certification in progress
AvailabilityQ4 2026via authorised distributors
Search topicATEX and IECEx
DeviceSmartphone
RouteSupply
WhereSonangol
Short answer. An ATEX and IECEx smartphone for Sonangol cannot be bought yet: the SAMS IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued), and the datasheet, certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
For the record, no certificate exists for the IS-04Z1 today. The programme is under way ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · ATEX and IECEx
Checklist: ATEX and IECEx smartphone for Sonangol
| 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 |
Product · Angola
The product behind this search: the SAMS IS-04Z1.
SAMS IS-04Z1
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.
- IP68 sealed
- 4,000 mAh battery
- 50 MP camera
- Android 16
- Zone 1 / Zone 21 design target
The organisation · Sonangol
Sonangol E.P. (Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola) and the IS-04Z1
Where it operates and the kinds of classified area a handset would meet there.
Sites and areas
- Luanda refinery
- Luanda
- Offshore Angola
- Cabinda refinery (Sonangol holds a 10% stake)
Classified areas
- Offshore production platforms
- Refinery process units
- Fuel storage and distribution depots
Supplier approval · Sonangol
How suppliers reach Sonangol
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.
Field notes · Sonangol
More about Sonangol that matters for portable equipment
Sonangol: logistics and access
Economic growth in 2025 was reported to have eased partly because of scheduled inspections and maintenance shutdowns in the oil sector, showing that planned shutdown periods affect activity.
Sonangol: projects and investment
Angola LNG made its first shipment in June 2013, and in 2022 a New Gas Consortium took a final investment decision on the Quiluma and Maboqueiro gas fields to keep gas flowing to the plant.
Sonangol: industry on the ground
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.
The term · ATEX and IECEx
What “ATEX and IECEx” means for a smartphone
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.
The route · supply
Sourcing the IS-04Z1 for Sonangol
Supply of the IS-04Z1 to Sonangol starts only after certification, through authorised distributors. Until then a buyer can request the datasheet and the written certification schedule, and arrange a safe-area evaluation unit, which puts the site on the list for the right local channel at launch.
- 01
Request the datasheet
The technical specification, marking target and conditions of use, sent by email.
- 02
Ask for the certification schedule
Which certificates are in progress, in what order, and what is still to be confirmed.
- 03
Evaluate in a safe area
Evaluation units can be used for connectivity, MDM enrolment and workflow testing outside classified areas.
- 04
Register for launch
Tell us the site, zone, gas group and quantity so the right authorised distributor can contact you.
Questions · Sonangol
Frequently asked questions
Can Sonangol buy the IS-04Z1 today?
Not today. Until the certificates are issued the IS-04Z1 stays out of classified areas, and until launch there is nothing to purchase. You can ask for the datasheet and the certification schedule, or book a safe-area evaluation unit.
What does an ATEX and IECEx smartphone for Sonangol cost?
There is no list price yet. SAMS gives indicative pre-launch pricing in writing, against a stated quantity and site, and does not commit to a lead time before certification completes.
Is the IS-04Z1 ATEX and IECEx certified?
Not yet. Both routes are in progress with TÜV in Germany and no certificate has been issued. Any listing that says otherwise is wrong.
How does Sonangol approve suppliers?
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.
How will SAMS supply Sonangol?
Through authorised distributors once certificates exist. Until then SAMS can send the datasheet and certification schedule and arrange safe-area evaluation units.
Has Sonangol's structure changed recently?
The group is described as a parastatal that formerly oversaw petroleum and gas in Angola, and its structure has been reorganised over time. Supplier registration contacts can therefore change, so confirm the current entity and procurement process directly with Sonangol before submitting documents.
How do conditions at Angolan offshore and coastal sites affect phones?
Angola's coast is hot and humid, with salt air offshore and at Luanda and Cabinda. For handheld devices look for strong ingress protection, corrosion resistance and a suitable temperature range, and ask the platform or terminal about its own environmental limits.
Do offshore platforms off Angola need different evidence from the Luanda refinery?
The protection concept is similar, but the area classification documents differ for each facility, so compare the marking with each one. Platforms also add salt, humidity and limited connectivity. The IS-04Z1 is still in certification, so confirm current requirements with Sonangol's supplier and HSE teams.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Other guides for Sonangol, other places in Angola, and the pages behind them.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone for SonangolSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone for SonangolSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier for SonangolSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for SonangolSame place, different guide
Angola market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for AngolaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Sonangol
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Sonangol, Angola
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · Sonangol
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Sonangol?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.