NOTE 7. NOTES PAYABLE

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AirLife Note Payable

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On August 25, 2023, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary NEH Midstream, LLC., entered into a Promissory Note (“AirLife Note”) with AirLife Gases USA Inc. (“AirLife”). Under the AirLife Note, NEH Midstream agreed to pay AirLife the principal sum of $2,000,000 or such lesser amount as shall equal the outstanding principal amount of the Advance made to NEH Midstream by AirLife. The entire balance will be due on the earlier of (i) the date that is 18 months after the commencement date as defined the Purchase and Sale Agreement between NEH Midstream and AirLife dated August 25, 2023, or (ii) May 30, 2027. Interest shall accrue at 0.0211%, compounded daily, equivalent to an annual interest rate of 8%, commencing on the date the advance was made and continuing until repaid. The Company’s interest in certain oil and natural gas properties, included within the Oil and natural gas properties, net (full cost) balance on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets are pledged as collateral for the AirLife Note. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the amount outstanding under the AirLife Note, including accrued interest of $260,338 and $217,823, respectively, and were $2,260,338 and $2,217,823, respectively, and recorded as Notes payable – current and Notes payable — noncurrent on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, if the Purchase Agreement is terminated due to delay of the November 30, 2025 Commencement Date, succession of plant operations or early termination of the Purchase Agreement, the Company will be required to pay the total amount of remaining monthly installments of the AirLife Note within five (5) days of the date of such termination. (See Note 14)

Loan and Equity Purchase Facility Agreement

On December 6, 2024, following the closing of the Business Combination, the Company and an institutional investor (the “EPFA Investor”) entered into an Equity Purchase Facility Agreement (the “EPFA”). Pursuant to the EPFA, the Company has the right to issue and sell to the EPFA Investor, and the EPFA Investor must purchase from the Company, up to an aggregate of $75 million (the “Commitment Amount”) in newly issued shares (the “Advance Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions. The Company may issue up to 866,873 Advance Shares assuming a purchase price of $8.075 per Advance Share.

The EFPA also provides for the issuance of two pre-paid advances in the aggregate amount of $10 million, the first pre-paid advance in the amount of $7 million and the second pre-paid advance in the amount of $3 million, each of which to be evidenced by a senior secured convertible promissory note (“the Notes”), which is convertible into shares of Common Stock. The Notes are secured by all assets of the Company. The Note for the First Pre-Paid Advance is initially convertible into 770,000 shares of Common Stock, assuming a conversion price of $10 and no accrued and unpaid interest. The Second Pre-Paid Advance Note will be initially convertible into 330,000 shares of Common Stock, assuming a conversion price of $10 and no accrued and unpaid interest.

The proceeds from the Second Pre-Paid Advance Note and sale of Advance Shares are expected to be used by the Company first to pay the then monthly payment on any outstanding Notes and then the remainder would be utilized for working capital. Pursuant to the terms of the EPFA, the Company is required to hold a special meeting of stockholders no later than ninety (90) calendar days following December 6, 2024 to seek approval of (i) the issuance of all of the shares of Common Stock that may be issuable pursuant to the Notes and the EPFA in compliance with the rules and regulations of Nasdaq and (ii) an amendment to the Company’s articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock of the Company to 250,000,000. At any time until the EPFA is terminated, the Company, in its sole discretion, has the right, but not the obligation, to issue and sell to the EPFA Investor, and the EPFA Investor must subscribe for and purchase from the Company, Advance Shares.

The price per Advance Share will be determined by multiplying the market price by 95% in respect of an Advance Notice, which shall be reduced by one-third (1/3rd) for each Excluded Day Purchase Price (as defined in the EPFA), which is not known at the time an Advance Notice is delivered but shall be determined on each closing based on the daily prices of the Advance Shares that are the inputs to the determination of the purchase price.

While the Convertible Notes are outstanding, the Company cannot issue, sell, grant, or otherwise dispose of any securities, or enter into any agreement or arrangement to do so, at a price per security less than 120% of $2.00 per share of Common Stock (the “EPFA Floor Price”) on such date, or otherwise provide rights to acquire securities at an effective price per security below 120% of the EPFA Floor Price unless the Company uses the proceeds of such transaction to fully redeem such outstanding Notes.

Until the termination of the EPFA, the Company must maintain a minimum cash balance of $500,000.

The Company reviewed the EFPA and determined that it should be recognized at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statement of operations (See Note 16).

As an inducement to entering into the EPFA, a designee of the EPFA Investor received 550,000 shares of ROCL and such shares were converted into 550,000 shares of Common Stock in connection with Business Combination.

Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note

Each Convertible Note provides for a 7% original issue discount and is for a term of 15 months. Commencing on the ninetieth (90th) day following the applicable Issuance Date and continuing on the same day of each successive calendar month until the entire outstanding principal amount has been repaid, the Company is required to make monthly payments to the holder of the Note (the “Holder”). Each monthly payment will be in an amount equal to the sum of (i) one twelfth (1/12) of the initial aggregate principal of the Note and all other notes issued pursuant to the EPFA, plus (ii) accrued and unpaid under the Note as of each payment date. Interest accrues on the outstanding principal balance at an initial annual rate equal to 10% (“Interest Rate”), which Interest Rate will increase to an annual rate of 18% upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Note).

On December 6, 2024, the Company drew the first prepaid advance of $7,000,000, net of an original issue discount of $490,000 and debt issuance costs of $5,048,574. As of March 31, 2025, the Company recorded $1,009,715 of amortization of the debt discount in the consolidated statement of operations. The unamortized debt discount is expected to be amortized over the next 11.5 months. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 the accrued interest on the Convertible Note in the consolidated balance sheets was $0 and $49,863, respectively.

On January 16, 2025, following the effectiveness of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, on December 30, 2024, the Company issued another Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note (the “Subsequent Note”) to the Investor in an aggregate principal amount of $3.0 million for an aggregate purchase price of $2.79 million after giving effect to a 7% original issue discount of $210,000 and debt issuance costs of $347,195. The Subsequent Note is for a term of 15 months from the Issuance Date. As of March 31, 2025, the Company recorded $150,732 of amortization of the debt discount in the consolidated statement of operations. As of March 31, 2025, there was no accrued interest on the Subsequent Note in the consolidated balance sheets.

The outstanding balance on the Convertible Note and the Subsequent Note, net of debt discount, as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was $4,420,297 and $2,233,712, respectively.

Conversion Rights

Each Note is convertible into shares of Common Stock at the option of the Investor at an initial conversion price of $10.00 per share (the “Conversion Price”). If the Company sells, enters into an agreement to sell, or grants any option to purchase any shares of Common Stock or any other securities that are at any time convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock, at an effective price per share less than the Conversion Price of the Note then in effect, the Conversion Price will be reduced to equal the effective price per share in such dilutive issuance. The Conversion Price is also subject to a downward adjustment if an Event of Default occurs. The Conversion Price is subject to an initial floor price of $2.00 per share of Common Stock, however beginning on the effective date of the initial Registration Statement, and on the same day of every six (6) months thereafter (each, a “Floor Price Reset Date”), the floor price will be reduced to 20% of the average volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such trading day on the primary market of the Common Stock during regular trading hours as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (the “VWAP”) during the five (5) trading days immediately prior to such Floor Price Reset Date. Additionally, the Company may reduce the floor price to any amount set forth in a written notice to the Holder, provided that any such reduction will be irrevocable and will not be subject to increase thereafter. The Company may prepay the Note at its option, upon thirty (30) business days written notice, by paying a 10% redemption premium.

The Company reviewed the conversion option and determined that the scope exception within ASC 815-10-15-74 (a) is met and the conversion option in not required to be bifurcated and accounted for as an embedded derivative under ASC 815.

Event of Default Conversion

From and after the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Holder may elect to convert the Note into shares of the Common Stock at the “Event of Default Conversion Price”, which is equal to the lower of the Conversion Price then in effect; and 90% of the lowest VWAP of the Common Stock during the ten (10) consecutive trading days immediately prior to the date on which we received written notice of such conversion from such holder, subject to the Floor Price.

The Company reviewed the Event of Default feature under ASC 815-15 and determined that the default interest feature is considered an embedded derivative that should be bifurcated from the host instrument requiring fair value accounting at issuance with all changes in fair value after the issuance date recorded in the consolidated statement of operations (See Note 16).

Limitations on Conversion

A Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of the Note to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion, the Holder (together with its related parties) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of shares of the Company Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. The Maximum Percentage may be raised or lowered to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99%, at the option of the Holder, except that any increase will only be effective upon 61 days’ prior written notice to us.

Redemption Rights

At any time, the Company may redeem in cash all, or any portion, of the Note, in an amount equal to the outstanding principal balance being redeemed, plus a 10% premium in respect of such principal amount, plus all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on such principal amount.

Security Agreement

Also, on December 6, 2024, the Company, each of its subsidiaries (each, a “Grantor”), and the Investor, entered into a Security Agreement (the “Security Agreement”) with respect to the Notes. Pursuant to the Security Agreement, each Grantor granted a security interest in such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to each type of property described in the Security Agreement, (collectively, the “Collateral”), including, but not limited to the Company’s Equipment, Inventory, Receivables, Related Contracts, Pledged Debt, Investment Property, Pledged Stock and Account Collateral. The Collateral secures and will secure all debts, obligations, liabilities, covenants and duties of every kind owed at any time to the Secured Parties by the Grantors under the Purchase Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantee and/or each other Transaction Document.

Subsidiary Guarantee

Also, on December 6, 2024, each of the Company’s subsidiaries (the “Guarantors”) executed a guarantee agreement (the “Subsidiary Guarantee”), whereby each such Guarantor guaranteed to the EPFA Investor the prompt and full payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations of the Company under and pursuant to the Security Agreement.

Amended and Restated Equity Purchase Facility Agreement

On February 21, 2025, the Company and the Investor entered into an Amended and Restated Equity Purchase Facility Agreement (the “A&R EPFA”), which amends and restates the Existing EPFA in its entirety. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the A&R EPFA.

The A&R EPFA provides, among other things, that for so long as any amount remains outstanding under the Promissory Notes, if the Company submits an Advance Notice (as defined in the A&R EPFA), then the aggregate purchase price owed to the Company from such Advance Notice (the “Advance Proceeds”) shall be paid by the Investor to the Company and used by the Company in accordance with Section 7.15 of the A&R EPFA; provided, however, that any such Advance Notice that is submitted during any thirty (30) calendar day period preceding the date on which the Company is required to make a monthly payment pursuant to Sections 1(b) and 1(d) of the

Promissory Notes (each such payment, a “Note Payment”), then without the prior written consent of the Investor, the Company may only submit such Advance Notice, if the Advance Proceeds are paid by the Investor by offsetting the amount of the Advance Proceeds against the full amount of the applicable Note Payment (first towards accrued and unpaid interest, then towards Payment Premiums (as defined in the Promissory Notes) (if applicable), and then towards outstanding principal), with any remaining Advance Proceeds to be paid by the Investor in cash to the Company and used by the Company in accordance with Section 7.15 of the A&R EPFA. Furthermore, if there is any default under the Promissory Notes, the Company may only submit an Advance Notice with the prior consent of the Investor.

Under the terms of the A&R EPFA, the price per Advance Share (as defined in the A&R EPFA) is set at the product obtained by multiplying the market price by 95%. In the event of a Regular Purchase Pricing Period (as defined in the A&R EPFA), the Company may elect to set the minimum price per Advance Share (the “Minimum Acceptable Price”) for such Advance Notice, however, if no Minimum Acceptable Price is selected, the Minimum Acceptable Price will automatically be set at a price equal to the Floor Price (as defined in the A&R EPFA) then in effect multiplied by 105.3%. In the event of an Accelerated Purchase Pricing Period (as defined in the A&R EPFA), the Minimum Acceptable Price shall always equal the Floor Price then in effect multiplied by 105.3%. Each trading day during a Pricing Period (as defined in the A&R EPFA) that is an Excluded Day (as defined in the A&R EPFA), shall result in an automatic reduction to the number of Advance Shares set forth in such Advance Notice by (i) in the event of a Regular Purchase Pricing Period, one-third for each such Excluded Day, (ii) in the event of an Accelerated Purchase Pricing Period, (A) with respect to an Equity Condition Excluded Day (as defined in the A&R EPFA), 100% or (B) with respect to a MAP Excluded Day (as defined in the A&R EPFA), 16% for each MAP Event (as defined in the A&R EPFA) in the applicable Accelerated Purchase Pricing Period. The A&R EPFA also provides that in no event may the Purchase Price be lower than the Floor Price then in effect and the Company may not submit an Advance Notice, without the consent of the Investor, if the market price of the Company’s common stock immediately prior to submission is lower than 120% of the Floor Price then in effect.

Pursuant to the terms of the A&R EPFA, the Floor Price is currently set at $0.7176 per Common Share, which is equal to 20% of the average five-day VWAP of the Common Shares on January 15, 2025, which is the date the Company’s resale registration statement on Form S-1 was declared effective. The A&R EPFA further provides that, beginning on July 15, 2025 and on the same day of every six (6) months thereafter (each, a “Floor Price Reset Date”), the Floor Price shall be adjusted (downwards only) to 20% of the average VWAP of the common stock during the five (5) trading days immediately prior to such Floor Price Reset Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, the Company may reduce the Floor Price then in effect to any amount set forth in a written notice to the Investor; provided that such reduction shall be irrevocable and shall not be subject to increase thereafter.

The table below summarizes the outstanding notes payable as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, including the effects of discounts and debt issuance costs:

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(1)Discounts as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, consisted of $700,00 and $490,000, respectively, in discounts less accumulated amortization of $218,264 and $27,398, respectively.

(2)Debt issuance costs as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, consisted of $4,905,769 and $4,558,574, respectively, in debt issuance costs less accumulated amortization of $1,224,469 and $254,888.

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The table below presents the disaggregation of interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024:

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Long-term debt future maturities for five years and thereafter as of March 31, 2025:

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