Brazilian consortium Norte Energia has started earthmoving works at the site where it will build the 11,200-MW Belo Monte hydropower project, a spokesperson for the consortium told wire services.

A federal judge recently suspended an injunction order issued by a lower court to stop development of the hydro project, according to the judge's ruling released by environmental regulator Ibama.

A Para state court had suspended the preliminary license issued by the watchdog that authorized the Norte Energia consortium to begin work.

The judge did not accept the lower court's arguments that infrastructure, sanitation, health and education conditions in the license were not addressed, Ibama said in a statement.

Earlier this month, national water agency ANA authorized the use of the Xingu River for power generation by the project, operations of which are penciled in to begin in 2015.

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