The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it will conduct the second test retrieval of fuel debris from one of the damaged reactors as early as Tuesday.



Tokyo Electric Power Company began the trial procedure at the No. 2 reactor last Tuesday. If the process goes as planned, it will mark the second successful removal, following one in November last year.



The firm said a device placed inside a containment vessel successfully grasped a small amount of fuel debris weighing just a few grams. On Sunday, the debris was successfully brought out of the containment vessel while still held by the device.



TEPCO plans to measure the radiation level of the fuel debris on Monday. If the level is low enough to ensure worker safety, the sample will be placed in a transport container.



An estimated 880 tons of molten fuel mixed with parts of structures are said to remain in the No. 1, 2 and 3 reactors.



The extremely high levels of radiation still being emitted by the debris make their retrieval by far the biggest obstacle in efforts to decommission the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.