Carmarthenshire County Council are investigating bringing mains gas to Upper Brynamman.
The local authority is starting to work in partnership with a not-for profit company Warm Wales and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council to provide a mains gas supply for the Upper Amman Valley.
Upper Brynamman was declared a Renewal Area in 2004 and is alongside the Amman Valley Renewal Area covering Tairgwaith and Lower Brynamman across the county border.
Carmarthenshire County Council head of housing Robin Staines said:
“In terms of tackling fuel poverty in particular the area does not benefit from a mains gas supply. The sources of heating for householders are limited to oil and solid fuel.
“This situation is replicated throughout many parts of rural Wales and is an issue in some rural parts of Carmarthenshire.
“The Council with partners are exploring a range funding opportunities available for deprived communities to support improvement of energy efficiency and bring alternative fuel supply to this area and possibly others in the future”
Renewal Areas aim to make a contribution to improving environmental, social and economic issues and the council believes that by providing an alternative fuel source, and by addressing energy efficiency and fuel poverty, the council can make inroads into achieving this.
The proposed scheme is to install 16.5 kilometres of new gas main to Tairgwaith, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, and Upper and Lower Brynamman.
Executive board member for housing and public protection Cllr Hugh Evans said: “There is ongoing work with partners on this project and there are still some technical issues, which we hope we can resolve with our partners. However, we are keen to ensure that this scheme goes ahead so that we can help as many homes as possible to install free or low cost, energy efficient gas central heating and improved insulation measures.
“This is an excellent scheme which would help reduce fuel bills for households in Upper Brynamman and be good for the environment by reducing emissions.”
Council leader Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “I would like to pay tribute to Elwyn Williams who was the county councillor in this area for many years.
“This is due to his hard work, the executive board will write to let him know this is happening now and to thank him for his efforts, we appreciate the work he did during his time in office.”
Council business manager Cllr Pam Palmer said: “Elwyn pursued this with a real tenacity, we are grateful to him for that.”
