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 · IECEx
IECEx Smartphone for Sonangol
Economic growth in 2025 was reported to have eased partly because of scheduled inspections and maintenance shutdowns in the oil sector, showing that planned shutdown periods affect activity. 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 explains what to look for in an IECEx smartphone for Sonangol, 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
DeviceSmartphone
RouteSpecification
WhereSonangol
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for Sonangol: 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. A buyer's engineering review is separate from the certificate. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · IECEx
Checklist: IECEx smartphone for Sonangol
| 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 | 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
Supplier registration at 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: 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.
Sonangol: geography and layout
The main corporate headquarters is the Sonangol Building on Rua Rainha Ginga in the Ingombota district of Luanda, built in 2005, where about 2,000 people are employed.
Sonangol: who works there
Sonangol P and P, founded in 1992, is the group's prospecting and production subsidiary, and in December 2013 the group acquired exploration rights to five onshore oil blocks.
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 Sonangol. Offshore Angola attracts international operators, service companies and EPCs, many of which already use equipment assessed under the IECEx scheme. A certificate of conformity with its schedule of conditions gives a Sonangol team and a visiting contractor the same document to review. The IS-04Z1 is being taken towards IECEx, but no certificate exists yet.
The route · specification
Specifying an IECEx smartphone for Sonangol
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 · Sonangol
Frequently asked questions
Can Sonangol 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 smartphone for Sonangol 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.
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 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.
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 Sonangol the operator at Angola's offshore fields?
Usually not directly. Sonangol acts as concessionaire and partner, while international oil companies commonly operate the offshore blocks. Equipment standards and approved-vendor processes therefore depend on the operator of the specific field. Identify the operator and ask for its contractor and equipment requirements.
What language should documentation be in for Angola?
Portuguese is the official language, so manuals, labels and training for hazardous-area devices are often expected in Portuguese, while international operators commonly work in English. Confirm with the operator and Sonangol which language is required for approval and for site induction.
Can a phone be supplied to Sonangol sites directly?
Not at present. Sonangol uses a Supplier Portal for registration and qualification, and SAMS expects supply after certification to come through authorised distributors. SAMS can currently share a datasheet and schedule. Check the portal's current requirements before assuming any route is open.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for Sonangol and for Angola.
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for SonangolSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone for SonangolSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone for SonangolSame place, different guide
IECEx 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
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 · Sonangol
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Sonangol?
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.