[9] Since the time both were part of the USSR, the dam has been steadily opposed by the government of the neighbouring Uzbekistan, which fears it will negatively impact its lucrative cotton crops.

[17] On July 1, 2016 the state commission in charge of the project had chosen the Italian company Salini Impregilo to carry out the construction for $3.9 billion.

The project is broken down into four components, with the most expensive one involving the building of a 335-meter-high rockfill dam which will entail costs of around $1.95 billion.

[22] In response to the request of the bordering countries and especially Uzbekistan, the World Bank has financed the Techno-Economic Assessment Study (TEAS) conducted by consortium of Coyne et Bellier, Electroconsult and IPA Energy + Water Economics, and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) conducted by Pöyry.

All parties, including Central Asian states met in Almaty in July 2014 for the 5th Riparian Meeting to discuss findings within the TEAS and ESIA.

[24][25][26][27][28] The project has raised tensions with Uzbekistan over a decrease in the downstream water flow the country needs for its irrigated agriculture (particularly cotton).

[29][30] In February 2010, Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent a letter to his Tajik counterpart demanding an independent examination of the possible consequences of the dam.

"Go ahead and build it, but we hold to certain guarantees in accordance with these conventions that have been signed by you," Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov said in a televised appearance on July 5, 2018.