LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - INEOS owner and a British

billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has called on the government to curb

environmental costs on businesses, which he said, along with

high energy costs, were driving investment away from the

country.

The call comes as the government is under pressure to grow

the economy, and as energy-intensive firms in Britain such as

steelmakers struggle with what industry says are the highest

costs in Europe.

INEOS faces a 15 million pound ($20 million) bill for its

obligations under Britain's Emissions Trading System, the

company said. The ETS charges power plants and other industrial

entities for each ton of carbon dioxide they emit as part of

wider efforts to cut emissions and reach climate targets.

"This is not just INEOS, this is a reality for British

manufacturers up and down the country: carbon emissions taxes

and excessive energy costs are squeezing the life out of the

sector," Ratcliffe, chairman and founder of INEOS said in a

statement.

INEOS' joint venture with PetroChina International,

Petroineos, last year announced its Grangemouth oil refinery, in

Scotland would close in 2025 due to economic difficulties

leading to the loss of 400 jobs.

Under the UK ETS companies must surrender carbon allowances

equivalent to their emissions by April 30.

The Benchmark UK carbon contract is currently

trading around 48 pounds ($64.01)per metric ton.

The equivalent contract in Europe's ETS is trading

around 65 euros ($73.76)/ton.

($1 = 0.7499 pounds)

($1 = 0.8813 euros)