EGAS: rules and approvals
EGAS is responsible for issuing natural gas exploration licences in Egypt, so offshore and onshore gas bid rounds run through it rather than through the operating companies.
EGAS · IECEx
IECEx Mobile Phone for EGAS
The Zohr gas field, found in 2015 about 190 km north of Port Said, is estimated to hold around 30 trillion cubic feet of gas, and production began in December 2017. It works under the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, oversees exploration agreements in Mediterranean and Nile Delta concessions, and manages gas grid, LNG and regasification activity. This page explains what to look for in an IECEx mobile phone for EGAS, 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 topicIECEx
DeviceMobile Phone
RouteSpecification
WhereEGAS
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for EGAS: 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 · IECEx
Checklist: IECEx mobile phone for EGAS
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of conformity | Number checkable on the IECEx online register | In progress; not issued |
| Standards edition | The IEC 60079 edition the certificate cites | Stated on the certificate when issued |
| Schedule of conditions | Limits of use, batteries and accessories | Published with the certificate |
| Where it applies | EGAS: Gas production and processing facilities, Gas pipelines and transmission stations, Tank farms | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Egypt
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 Egypt. 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 · EGAS
Working with Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS): 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
- Offshore Mediterranean concession blocks
- Onshore Nile Delta areas
- National gas grid
Classified areas
- Gas production and processing facilities
- Gas pipelines and transmission stations
- Tank farms
- LNG and regasification facilities
Supplier approval · EGAS
How suppliers reach EGAS
EGAS publishes supplier registration forms and guides, and an LNG supplier register with published criteria, on its website (egas.com.eg); confirm current procedures with EGAS directly. 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 · EGAS
More about EGAS that matters for portable equipment
EGAS: industry on the ground
Gas imports began in April 2015, with regasification supplying the national grid, after domestic consumption reached about the same level as production, so import terminals form part of the system.
EGAS: projects and investment
In 2014 and 2015 EGAS signed six agreements covering three offshore areas in the Mediterranean and three onshore areas in the Nile Delta, and launched a bidding round for twelve offshore blocks.
EGAS: background
EGAS is a state-owned holding company established in August 2001 that owns and manages state stakes in gas projects, with its headquarters in Nasr City, Cairo, and it is owned by EGPC.
The term · IECEx
What “IECEx” means for a smartphone
IECEx is the international scheme for certifying equipment used in explosive atmospheres. A certificate of conformity is issued by an accredited certification body against a specific edition of the IEC 60079 standards and carries a schedule of conditions of safe use. It is not a legal requirement in most countries on its own, but many national schemes accept it as the technical basis.
The IECEx certificate for the IS-04Z1 is in progress and has not been issued. The marking target is Ex ib IIC T4, the intrinsic safety concept for Zone 1 gas with the hardest gas group (IIC) and a 135 °C temperature class.
In EGAS. EGAS oversees exploration agreements in Mediterranean and Nile Delta concessions, so international operators and their contractors often arrive with IECEx documents. A certificate of conformity with its schedule of conditions gives EGAS reviewers and these operators a shared reference. The IS-04Z1 is designed for IECEx, which is still in progress.
The route · specification
Specifying an IECEx mobile phone for EGAS
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 · EGAS
Frequently asked questions
Can EGAS 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 IECEx mobile phone for EGAS 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.
Does the IS-04Z1 hold an IECEx certificate?
No. The IECEx certificate is in progress and has not been issued. SAMS will publish the number when it exists.
How does EGAS approve suppliers?
EGAS publishes supplier registration forms and guides, and an LNG supplier register with published criteria, on its website (egas.com.eg); confirm current procedures with EGAS directly.
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.
What language is needed for documentation in Egypt?
Arabic is the official language and English is widely used in international joint ventures, so manuals and safety instructions for hazardous-area devices are commonly accepted in English for engineering review, with Arabic training for site staff. Confirm requirements with the operating company.
Where are the Zone 1 gas areas in Egypt's gas chain?
Typical classified areas include offshore platforms, onshore gas treatment plants in the Nile Delta and Western Desert, compressor stations, the Damietta and Idku LNG plants and regasification terminals. Classification is site-specific, so request the area drawings from the operator.
Does an LNG regasification area need different evidence from a tank farm?
Both are classified by the operator, so compare the device marking with each area's documents. The gas group, zone and temperature class can differ between them. The IS-04Z1 target is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, not yet certified. Confirm with EGAS's HSE team.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on EGAS, and on other places in Egypt.
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier for EGASSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for EGASSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Supplier for EGASSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for EGASSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for EGPCElsewhere in Egypt
Egypt market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for EgyptEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · EGAS
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for EGAS, Egypt
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 · EGAS
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for EGAS?
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.