This story, if accurate, is simply an illustration of how low-regulation capitalism works. "Working as intended." Profit is the only motive, and thus as long as the company/investors profit, then it is a success.

The fact that national or global human well-being suffered is irrelevant (so long as we accept that capitalism (as currently implemented) is the right way).

Now, there's a strong likelihood that the government officials with the power to prevent the sale of the company, or alternately the power to prevent the cancelation of the contract, were lobbied (and financially supported in various ways counter to the benefit of the people those officials represent). Otherwise, it's hard to imagine the government just casually agreeing to abandon a project that was already demonstrated to be near success (and the outcome of which was already demonstrated to be important).