My immediate thoughts were along the same line as you guys...
While the media and the experts are spruikung the victory in the name of competition I would be almost willing to bet the house on the fact that the government will pay for the construction/start up costs in the name of 'jobs, jobs, jobs' then realise they can recoup some of the cost by flogging it off to the highest bidder.
Any bidder would have to take into consideration that if they were successful they would have to take on SACL in the long term operation.. naturally leaving SACL in the best position as they know any extra costs in the privitisation process can be recouped in the gouging stage ahead..