The purpose of the dam is to store tailings processed at the nearby Antamina mine.

Construction on the 130 m (427 ft) high concrete-face rock-fill starter dam began in 2000 was complete in April 2001.

From there, the dam is being raised with rock-fill with the upstream side being protected by a concrete slab.

[3] Upstream of the dam, a series of channels and embankments divert water from the Ayash River from entering the reservoir.

Water released into the environment is purified to meet standards and discharges from the dam are maintained at at least 150 liters per second.