BERLIN, March 13 (Reuters) - Germany's VNG, a unit of utility EnBW, has applied for state aid to shield it from any collapse in Russian gas supplies, Handelsblatt business daily reported on Sunday.

Citing industry sources, the paper said that VNG had applied to the KfW state development bank for a credit option.

Asked about the report, the company said the war in Ukraine had a massive impact on global and European energy markets. The effect on VNG's business operations and the risk situation was "extraordinary and challenging but manageable".

"For the future, however, it cannot be completely ruled out that there will be developments in the short term that could put a heavy strain on VNG's currently comfortable financial situation," said a spokesperson.

To be prepared for all eventualities, VNG is in contact with the appropriate divisions of government and associations, the spokesperson added.

VNG is involved in trading and sales of gas, transport, storage and biogas.

Earlier, a source close to the German finance ministry had said a second energy company had received state aid after Uniper secured credit lines of up to $11 billion from parent Fortum and state bank KfW in January to cope with volatility in energy markets.

Confirming a report in Welt am Sonntag, the source declined to name the second company but said it had received a 5.5 billion euro ($6 billion) short-term loan.

The finance ministry declined to comment. A spokesperson for the economy ministry said it did not want to comment on individual cases.

"In general, KfW's liquidity instruments are available to all sectors and are effective where short-term liquidity needs to be secured," the economy ministry spokesperson said.

STEAG, Germany's fifth largest utility, has also been under pressure. It said in January it had secured at least 100 million euros in extra funding to protect it from soaring prices. ($1 = 0.9167 euros) (Reporting by Christian Kraemer, Markus Wacket, Tom Kaeckenhoff Writing by Madeline Chambers Editing by Louise Heavens and Susan Fenton)