The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant announced that it had resumed a test to recover fuel debris from one of the reactors after a technical problem interrupted work for almost six weeks.

Tokyo Electric Power Company announced Monday that the attempt to recover melted fuel mixed with parts of the reactor structure had resumed at the No. 2 reactor.

Work began on September 10, but stopped a week later after images from two of the four cameras attached to the recovery device could not be confirmed.

The utility replaced the cameras and performed checks on the device. The operator had said it could take around two weeks to collect the first grams of debris, but now says the work could be finished sooner.

Salvage work was initially scheduled to begin in August, but was repeatedly suspended due to human errors and technical problems.

There are estimated to be around 880 tonnes of debris in reactors No. 1, 2 and 3 which suffered a meltdown after the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan in March 2011.

Debris removal is considered the most difficult stage of decommissioning the plant due to extremely high radiation levels.