A system is provided with a turbine combustor having a first diffusion fuel nozzle, wherein the first diffusion fuel nozzle is configured to produce a diffusion flame. The system includes a turbine driven by combustion products from the diffusion flame in the turbine combustor. The system also includes an exhaust gas compressor, wherein the exhaust gas compressor is configured to compress and route an exhaust gas from the turbine to the turbine combustor along an exhaust recirculation path. In addition, the system includes a control system configured to control flow rates of at least one oxidant and at least one fuel to the turbine combustor in a stoichiometric control mode and a non-stoichiometric control mode, wherein the stoichiometric control mode is configured to change the flow rates and provide a substantially stoichiometric ratio of the at least one fuel with the at least one oxidant, and the non-stoichiometric control mode is configured to change the flow rates and provide a non-stoichiometric ratio of the at least one fuel with the at least one oxidant.