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 · explosion proof
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier for Sonangol
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. 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 sets out how an explosion proof mobile phone 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 topicexplosion proof
DeviceMobile Phone
RouteSupply
WhereSonangol
Short answer. An explosion proof mobile phone 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.
Status: pre-launch. IECEx, ATEX, UKEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress and no certificate has been issued; launch is planned 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 Sonangol
| 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 | 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): operations and where an Ex phone fits
A short profile of its operations and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
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
Becoming an approved supplier to 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: 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.
Sonangol: 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: background
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 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 Sonangol. On offshore platforms and at the Luanda refinery, people often say 'explosion-proof' for any approved gear. In practice, flameproof Ex d enclosures protect fixed equipment, while intrinsic safety limits the energy of a portable device. For a handheld phone used on a platform deck or in refinery process units, intrinsic safety is the concept the IS-04Z1 is designed around.
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 explosion proof mobile phone for Sonangol cost?
No price is published. While certification is in progress there is no list price and no committed lead time, and a supplier quoting a firm figure for an uncertified Ex handset is promising something it cannot stand behind. Indicative pre-launch pricing is issued in writing against a stated quantity and site.
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 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
Related guides for Sonangol and for Angola.
IECEx Mobile Phone for SonangolSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone for SonangolSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for SonangolSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof 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
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
Enquiry · Sonangol
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Sonangol?
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.