Mining giant BHP Billiton managed to pull a free cash flow rabbit out of a depressed commodity price hat in the six months to December 31. But another rabbit will be needed in the second half and that company sees it coming in the form of South32, the demerged aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel and silver company that promises to have strong South African representation and African business run out of Johannesburg. The liquid metal supply contract that South32 has struck with the black-controlled Isizinda Aluminium will also give the South African aluminium industry a shot in the arm at a time of firming aluminium prices.