PPL: who works there
The Sui gas field, discovered in 1952, is the company's flagship project and is in a depletion phase, with PPL as operator holding 100% of both Sui and Kandhkot.
PPL · explosion proof
Explosion-Proof Smartphone for PPL
Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) is a Karachi-headquartered exploration and production company, 67.51 per cent government owned, best known for the Sui gas field in Balochistan. In December 2019 the company announced new oil and gas discoveries in Sindh and Balochistan, so new well sites and gathering facilities are being added in both provinces. This page explains what to look for in an explosion proof smartphone for PPL, 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
WherePPL
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for PPL: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
For the record, no certificate exists for the IS-04Z1 today. The programme is under way ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. An operator's own vendor approval is a separate step. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · explosion proof
Checklist: explosion proof smartphone for PPL
| 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 | PPL: Gas wellheads and gathering, Gas processing and compression plants, Condensate handling | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Pakistan
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 Pakistan. 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 · PPL
Working with Pakistan Petroleum Limited: 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
- Mazarani
- Adhi
- Chachar (Sindh)
- Hala
Classified areas
- Gas wellheads and gathering
- Gas processing and compression plants
- Condensate handling
Supplier approval · PPL
Becoming an approved supplier to PPL
PPL runs an e-procurement portal (eprocurement.ppl.com.pk) through which tenders are issued and bids submitted; confirm vendor registration steps with its support team. 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 · PPL
More about PPL that matters for portable equipment
PPL: rules and approvals
The company was listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange in 2004 after an initial public offering, so it follows listed-company governance and procurement disclosure rules.
PPL: background
Pakistan Petroleum Limited was incorporated on 5 June 1950, inheriting the assets of the Burmah Oil Company, which sold its remaining equity to the government in 1997, so it is a long-established producer.
PPL: background
The Kandhkot gas field was discovered in 1959, but production did not start until 1987 because of low demand, showing a long gap between discovery and development.
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 PPL. Gas gathering and condensate handling bring the question of what explosion-proof actually means. Flameproof Ex d is a heavy-enclosure concept for fixed electrical equipment, while intrinsic safety limits energy in portable electronics. A phone used near condensate handling relies on intrinsic safety, with the target marking II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, once certified.
The route · specification
Specifying an explosion proof smartphone for PPL
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 · PPL
Frequently asked questions
Can PPL 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 PPL cost?
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.
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 PPL approve suppliers?
PPL runs an e-procurement portal (eprocurement.ppl.com.pk) through which tenders are issued and bids submitted; confirm vendor registration steps with its support team.
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.
How do suppliers approach PPL?
PPL buys through its own procurement department, normally by tender and vendor registration, with technical review by the operating asset. Confirm the current process and certification requirements directly with PPL's procurement before offering equipment.
How does desert heat affect phones used at Sui or Kandhkot?
Both areas are hot and dry, with high summer temperatures and dust. Handheld devices should have a suitable operating temperature range, good dust protection and a battery that tolerates heat, and the site can confirm its own limits and any restrictions on devices in direct sun.
Would the phone be suitable for gas fields in Balochistan and Sindh?
The IS-04Z1 is designed for intrinsically safe handheld use with IP68 protection, but a final decision depends on the certificate, the gas group and the area classification at each field. Heat, dust and distance from charging points should be planned for. No certificate has been issued yet, so ask PPL's HSE team.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on PPL, and on other places in Pakistan.
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for PPLSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone for PPLSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for PPLSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone for PPLSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for OGDCLElsewhere in Pakistan
Pakistan market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for PakistanEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · PPL
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for PPL, Pakistan
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 · PPL
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for PPL?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.