New Delhi, Dec. 8 -- India's recent commitment to purchase 10% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports over the course of a year from the US to meet the country's cooking-fuel needs heralds a wider policy approach. It marks the diversification of our petroleum product purchase basket away from traditional proximate sources in West Asia.

The move comes amid ongoing negotiations between India and the US that seek to bring greater parity in trade between the two countries. While it remains to be seen whether the supplies work out cheaper, how do these gel with our medium-to-long-term energy priorities?

Broadly, any move away from our traditional suppliers must have strong commercial underpinnings, be it directly or indirectly by way o...