Sonatrach: geography and layout
It operates Hassi Messaoud, Algeria's largest oil field, and the Hassi R'Mel field south of Algiers, plus other fields such as Tin Fouye Tabankort, Zarzaitine and Haoud Berkaoui, mostly in the Saharan interior.
Sonatrach · explosion proof
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone for Sonatrach
Sonatrach is Algeria's state-owned national hydrocarbons company, established in 1963. A 10 MWp photovoltaic plant was announced in November 2021 in the Hassi Berkine basin to supply oil sites in the region, an indication of how remote and sun-exposed the Saharan fields are. If you are specifying an explosion proof mobile phone for Sonatrach, this page covers the markings, the approvals and the current certification status of the IS-04Z1.
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 topicexplosion proof
DeviceMobile Phone
RouteSpecification
WhereSonatrach
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for Sonatrach: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
Current position: certification in progress, nothing issued, launch targeted for Q4 2026. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · explosion proof
Checklist: explosion proof mobile phone for Sonatrach
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Protection concept | Flameproof (Ex d) or intrinsic safety (Ex i) | Intrinsic safety, level ib |
| Zone suitability | Zone 1 gas and Zone 21 dust | Design target for Zone 1 and 21 |
| Certificate | Number, issuing body and schedule of conditions | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | Sonatrach: Refinery process units, Pipeline terminals, Oil and gas production facilities | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Algeria
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 Algeria. 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 · Sonatrach
Sonatrach (Societe Nationale pour la Recherche, la Production, le Transport, la Transformation et la Commercialisation des Hydrocarbures) and the IS-04Z1
Where it operates and the kinds of classified area a handset would meet there.
Sites and areas
- Hassi Messaoud oil field
- Hassi R'Mel gas field
- Skikda
- Arzew
Classified areas
- Refinery process units
- Pipeline terminals
- Oil and gas production facilities
- Gas processing
Supplier approval · Sonatrach
Supplier registration at Sonatrach
Supplier registration and equipment approval are run by the organisation itself; confirm current requirements with its procurement and HSE teams. 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 · Sonatrach
More about Sonatrach that matters for portable equipment
Sonatrach: people and language
Around 2002 Sonatrach was reported to employ roughly 120,000 workers and produce about 30% of Algeria's national output, so it is by far the dominant industrial employer.
Sonatrach: infrastructure
The Hassi R'Mel to Skikda and El Kala gas pipeline is 48 inches in diameter and links the Hassi R'Mel gas field to the Skikda export area on the Mediterranean coast.
Sonatrach: background
Sonatrach was founded on 31 December 1963 and is Algeria's national oil company; it is described as the largest company in Africa, with 154 subsidiaries covering upstream, midstream and downstream activities.
The term · explosion proof
What “explosion proof” means for a smartphone
“Explosion proof” is the phrase most buyers use for equipment that may be taken into a classified hazardous area. Strictly, it covers several protection concepts: a flameproof enclosure (Ex d) contains an internal explosion, while intrinsic safety (Ex i) limits electrical energy so that an ignition cannot start. Phones are normally intrinsically safe, because a flameproof handset would be too heavy to carry all shift.
The IS-04Z1 uses intrinsic safety, with a marking target of Ex ib IIC T4, and is designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21. It is pre-launch, certification is in progress and no certificate has been issued.
In Sonatrach. On a Sonatrach site, 'explosion-proof' is everyday shorthand covering different protection concepts. Flameproof enclosures (Ex d) suit heavy equipment at gas processing and LNG liquefaction units, while intrinsic safety limits the energy a handheld can release. A phone is a handheld, so the IS-04Z1 is designed around intrinsic safety rather than a flameproof casing.
The route · specification
Specifying an explosion proof mobile phone for Sonatrach
A short checklist for anyone writing or reviewing the specification, with the IS-04Z1 status against each point.
Check on the paper
- Marking
- Equipment group, category, protection concept, gas group and temperature class, matched to the area drawing.
- Certificate and schedule
- A certificate number, issuing body and the schedule of conditions, not a brochure claim.
- Standards edition
- The IEC 60079 or national standard edition the certificate was issued against.
Check for the IS-04Z1
- Marking target
- II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4: a target, not yet a certificate.
- Certificate status
- IECEx, ATEX, UKEX and NEC 500 in progress; none issued.
- Operator approval
- Separate from the certificate and handled with the site operator.
Questions · Sonatrach
Frequently asked questions
Can Sonatrach buy the IS-04Z1 today?
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.
What does an explosion proof mobile phone for Sonatrach 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 explosion proof or intrinsically safe?
It is intrinsically safe (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), which is the usual way to make a phone for hazardous areas. It is not a flameproof (Ex d) design, and certification is still in progress.
How does Sonatrach approve suppliers?
Supplier registration and equipment approval are run by the organisation itself; confirm current requirements with its procurement and HSE teams.
Is intrinsically safe the same as explosion proof?
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.
Which Sonatrach sites would need intrinsically safe phones?
Typical Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas are found at wellheads, gas treatment and compression plants at Hassi Messaoud and Hassi R'Mel, pipeline stations, and the LNG and liquids terminals at Arzew and Skikda. Classification is site-specific, so ask the facility for area drawings before choosing devices.
How do suppliers get approved by Sonatrach?
Sonatrach and its subsidiaries manage their own procurement, typically through registration, tenders and technical evaluation, and joint ventures with international partners may add their own requirements. There is no public approved list, so confirm the current route with the relevant Sonatrach entity.
How should a handset be checked before use at Hassi Messaoud or Hassi R'Mel?
Ask for the certificate, schedule of conditions and marking, and compare them with the zone and gas group in the site's classification documents. Contractor induction and permit rules also apply. The IS-04Z1 is still in certification, so confirm current requirements with Sonatrach's procurement and HSE teams before any evaluation unit is taken on site.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for Sonatrach and for Algeria.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone for SonatrachSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for SonatrachSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone for SonatrachSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier for SonatrachSame place, different guide
Algeria market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for AlgeriaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Sonatrach
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Sonatrach, Algeria
Tell us what you need to equip and where. The SAMS team answers by email with the datasheet and where each certification route stands.
Enquiry · Sonatrach
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Sonatrach?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.