PetroSA: background
PetroSA was formed in January 2002 by merging Mossgas, Soekor and parts of the Strategic Fuel Fund Association, and was launched by President Thabo Mbeki that year.
PetroSA · explosion proof
Explosion-Proof Smartphone for PetroSA
PetroSA is South Africa's state-owned oil and gas company, a subsidiary of CEF SOC Limited. PetroSA is headquartered in Cape Town, while its main gas fields lie offshore about 89 km from Mossel Bay on the South Coast, so field and plant work are in different places. This page explains what to look for in an explosion proof smartphone for PetroSA, and where the IS-04Z1 stands against that list today.
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
DeviceSmartphone
RouteSpecification
WherePetroSA
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for PetroSA: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
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 smartphone for PetroSA
| 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 | PetroSA: Gas-to-liquids process units, Offshore platforms, Gas and condensate handling | Classified by the site operator |
Product · South Africa
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 South Africa. 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 · PetroSA
Working with The Petroleum, Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA): sites and classified areas
The main sites and the hazardous-area types a portable device is likely to meet at this organisation.
Sites and areas
- Mossel Bay GTL refinery
- FA production platform
- Bredasdorp Basin gas fields (F-A and E-M)
Classified areas
- Gas-to-liquids process units
- Offshore platforms
- Gas and condensate handling
Supplier approval · PetroSA
How suppliers reach PetroSA
PetroSA lists a supplier procurement portal on its website (procurement.petrosa.com); confirm current registration and equipment approval 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 · PetroSA
More about PetroSA that matters for portable equipment
PetroSA: rules and approvals
The Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) is the state regulator for onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration, and was split out of Soekor when PetroSA was created.
PetroSA: projects and investment
The Oribi field, discovered in 1990, was the first oilfield development in South Africa, operated by Soekor before it merged into PetroSA.
PetroSA: background
The first South African offshore well was drilled in 1969, and natural gas deposits were found on the continental shelf off the Southern Cape coast, which led to today's offshore gas business.
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 PetroSA. Gas-to-liquids process units and offshore platforms show why explosion-proof is not one concept. Flameproof Ex d is for fixed electrical equipment, while intrinsic safety suits portable devices. A phone relies on intrinsic safety, with a target marking of II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, subject to certification.
The route · specification
Specifying an explosion proof smartphone for PetroSA
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 · PetroSA
Frequently asked questions
Can PetroSA 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 smartphone for PetroSA 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 PetroSA approve suppliers?
PetroSA lists a supplier procurement portal on its website (procurement.petrosa.com); confirm current registration and equipment approval 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.
Is PetroSA's structure changing, and does that matter to suppliers?
The Cabinet approved a merger of PetroSA with the Strategic Fuel Fund and iGas in 2020 to form a new national petroleum company. Supplier registration details and contacts can change with such restructuring, so confirm the current legal entity and procurement portal before submitting any documents.
Who regulates exploration activity that PetroSA operates offshore?
The Petroleum Agency of South Africa regulates onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration. It does not certify handheld equipment itself, so Ex certification questions are normally handled through the operator's own standards and South African electrical and mine or plant safety rules. Confirm requirements with PetroSA.
Where do suppliers register with PetroSA?
The sheet says PetroSA lists a supplier procurement portal on its website, procurement.petrosa.com. Registration and equipment approval requirements should be confirmed with PetroSA's procurement and HSE teams, as they may change. The IS-04Z1 has no certificate yet, so it cannot be offered as certified equipment.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Other guides for PetroSA, other places in South Africa, and the pages behind them.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone for PetroSASame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone for PetroSASame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for PetroSASame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone for PetroSASame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for SasolElsewhere in South Africa
South Africa market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for South AfricaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · PetroSA
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for PetroSA, South Africa
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 · PetroSA
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for PetroSA?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.