Water from the dam's reservoir is diverted through a 5.1 kilometres (3.2 mi) long headrace tunnel to the power station downstream.

The drop in elevation affords a hydraulic head of 299 metres (981 ft).

[2] Construction on the dam began in 2002 and the river was diverted on 10 December 2006.

The dam and the power station were constructed under the build–operate–transfer method and cost US$756.2 million.

It is owned and operated by the Shweli River-I Power Station Co.