The dam serves several purposes including irrigation in the Fergana Valley and hydroelectric power production.

Water released from the dam can enter a canal on either side of the river downstream.

Construction on the dam began in 1969 and the generators at Andijan 1 were commissioned between 1974 and 1984.

[1] Construction at Andijan 2 began in 2007 and it was commissioned on 2 September 2010.

[2] The artificial lake created by this dam, the Andijan Reservoir, is fed by the Kara Darya and its tributaries Kurshab and Jazy.